Why make a Retr0Bright if you have a 130XE (mint) to sacrifice to replace the yellowed case and keyboard of an Atari 800XE ?

If we talk about collecting an atari 800XE is more important than a 130XE, especially if you have more than one.

I have replaced only the upper side of the case, the keyboard and the plastic piece of the led which in the 800XE is white and not red, the back side with the adhesive fortunately was in perfect condition.

I didn’t have to do any repairs except to calibrate the XC12 cassette recorder motor speed using an old but still valid speed calibration system, a music cassette, obviously only if you have a “good ear” and you know the music track perfectly.

NOTES: i have never seen the XC12 in a white box and miss it in my Atari collection.

NOTES 2: How did i listen the Billy Idol cassette? the Atari SIO connector supports Analog audio with a dedicated pin to this purpose.

Gallery:

123►

The monkey took me to collect all the Mini Consoles and Computers.

It all started when the NES Mini came out and then i have continued with all versions of NES and of Super Nintendo, PSX Mini, The C64 Mini and NeoGeo Mini.

And now … i fell again; Sega Mega Drive Mini, which includes the European, American and Japanese versions + Mega Drive Tower Mini (Japan).

What i can say about the Sega Megadrive Mini/Tower mini and about the Packaging ? aesthetically very beautiful, about the software? the usual soup, but i don’t like to play so the problem does not arise :-)

NOTE: The USB Joypad works perfectly under Windows 10, personally tested with the Dolhpin emulator (WII/Gamecube).

Gallery:

review: https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/12/20861085/sega-genesis-console-retro-mini-review-launch-games
wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Genesis_Mini
official website: https://megadrivemini.sega.com

When you remove a chip with the screwdriver you have to be careful to lift the chip from the socket and not the socket from the PCB :lol:

That said and after bridged the broken pcb track of the GTIA and replaced a failed RAM the computer started working properly.

After the repair i have also make a improvement of the S-Video signal (XE series support the S-Video output).

This simple mod replaces/adds some resistors and capacitors that in the XE version are wrong for a perfect S-Video signal.

The instruction can be found in the link at the end of this article.

NOTE: The description of the STEP 4 is incorrect, it’s not Q2 but Q3 and in the STEP 5 is not Q3 but Q2.

NOTE2: Obviously after assemble the computer i have noticed the “B” key was stuck, the key piston have a crack, after replace it now the button work properly.

Gallery of the repair:

12►

Download: Svideo Atari 130XE Mod (631)

This is the same article of the previous one “Floppy Disk Cleaner” with the only difference that i have used a ALPS mechanics.

I have also connected the RED Led throught a 680 ohm 1W resistor to the 12v line.

Previous post:

Why throwing away a Commodore Floppy Disk Drive with a broken head it could become a great gadget to clean Floppy Disks.

How to do ? just disassemble the entire part that controls the movement of the head including the head itself.

The power supply used is 12v with at least 1A, you must connect the positive to the BROWN wire and the negative to the BLACK wire of the motor control PCB.

Good Cleaning.

Gallery:

This is the official demo party results from Zoo 2019. See also the CSDB ZOO 2019 section for more informations.

C64 Demo:

• 1 – Out of Contex by Artline Designs
• 2 – Void Mind 84% by Extend (*)        
• 3 – Able Marble by Accession
• 4 – Metadimension by Pers’ Wastaiset Produktiot
• 5 – Rebirth by Finnish Gold (*)        
• 6 – Rebels 1989 by Rebels
• 7 – Nine Rings by Dr. TerrorZ
• 8 – Odysseija by Wide Load
• 9 – Demo1988 by Codetsu
• 10 – Tales from the Crypt PETSCII Edition by wbochar
• 11 – Kolmiolaeaeke by Galtin Ballway (*)                
• 12 – Dobbelganger by Grue

(*) Missing

C64 Music:

• 1 – Cakewalk by Jangler
• 2 – Touch the Sky by Flex
• 3 – Ten Pokes by Jojeli
• 4 – Break Rulez by Apollyon
• 5 – Mala Gente by Zardax
• 6 – Sour & Salty by Juzdie
• 7 – The Wrath of Yamo by Abaddon
• 8 – Jälkilöyly by Deetsay
• 9 – Amazing Discoveries by LMan
• 10 – Smoke and Mirrors by Stinsen/dLx
• 11 – Shartnado! by Aomeba
• 12 – Agent of Lies by ocean
• 13 – Magical Shower by Warlord
• 14 – Zoo Much Information by TDM
• 15 – Banana Island Song by Flotsam
• 16 – The Scobble Lotcher by Vegard
• 17 – Atomshelter by Slimex
• 18 – Retrospect 130 by Ferrara
• 19 – I Held That Cheese for 2 Mins and Then I Ate It by Spider Jerusalem
• 20 – Lo-Fi in My Basement by Uneksija
• 21 – Hardware Malfunction by Proton
• 22 – Zooong by Barik        

C64 Graphics:

• 1 – Raster Split by Electric
• 2 – Phoenix by Facet
• 5 – New Messiah by L3nin666
• 6 – Crystaleyezed by Prowler
• 7 – Mayor of Candytown by Debris
• 8 – Escape from Zoo by Edi
• 9 – Stroll by ptoing
• 10 – High Hopes by Apollyon
• 11 – Resting Ronin by MisBug
• 12 – Kaiser Wieners Keg & Pickle by Mntrk
• 13 – Super Off Road Homage by ilesj
• 14 – Yksitoista by Debris
• 15 – Sauna Anyone? by Mr. Masterzeus
• 16 – Medusa by Fabs
• 17 – Hanami in Roihuvuori by Moraff
• 18 – Brazil Nuts by Moziz
• 19 – 8th Gate by Rail Slave
• 20 – Sweaty Pear by ptoing
• 21 – Spacesplash by Dr. TerrorZ
• 22 – Sunset in Varlaxudden by Moraff
• 23 – Ilbu by Ilbu

C64 Basic Demo:

• 1 – Basic V3 by Jupp3
• 2 – Necessity by Codetsu
• 3 – Sosialistinen tietokone by Jumalauta

C64 Disk Cover:

• 1 – Jack of Apes by Electric
• 2 – Damones at Zoo-Karaoke by Duce
• 3 – Void Mind by Duce (*)        
• 4 – Pääkallot by Ilbu
• 5 – Late Night Zoo by Junkie
• 6 – Death Trip by Hani
• 7 – Space Bar / Honey I’m Going to Zoo by Debris
• 8 – Young God by Sipsitjadippi
• 9 – Run U Fool by Sipsitjadipp    
• 10 – CCCCCCCCCCC by Manu

(*) Missing

Mixed Graphics:

• 1 – Swimming Pool by Exotic Men
• 2 – Ajattelija by Laserzone
• 3 – Grill Master by Extend
• 4 – Limpo by Fit
• 5 – Channel0 by Atlantis
• 6 – Soft Eagle by Extend
• 7 – Revenge! by Fit
• 8 – Madame by Panic
• 9 – Hardware by Yleisradio
• 10 – Elin by Yleisradio
• 13 – Light by Dr. TerrorZ
• 14 – Fast Blood by Panic
• 15 – The Muumio Is From the Ranch, From the Texas by HiRMU
• 16 – Ghost of the Zoo 19 by Hani
• 17 – Manga Cat by Alice Li
• 18 – Death by wbochar
• 19 – Dragon by BemaSoft
• 20 – Skull by wbochar
• 21 – Ilmeenikunzoo by Manu
• 22 – Örmi Ötökkä by Vilke
• 23 – Tupladiski by Laserzone
• 24 – Hampaat by Unkkubanaani

Download: Zoo 2019 Full Party Stuff (980)

source: zooparty.org

A new version of the firmware for the Ultimate-64 / U2+ / U2 by Gideon is released.

Difference with previous release V1.21 / V1.22 (Initial Elite release)

Changes / Improvements to the U64 FPGA:

• Added Drive B activity to the possible Case LED outputs.
• Increased the number of UltiSIDs from two to eight.
• Fixed Jailbar issue on HDMI output.
• Fixed a Ledstrip issue that slipped into one of the previous versions.
• Improved EMC performance.
• Added Paddle Swap for the U64 Elite.
• Increased application CPU performance.

Changes to the Ultimate 64 application:

• Added support for 8-SID configuations.
• Split the U64 configuration settings for better overview.
• Added possibility to load / save and reset configuration settings.
• Added the possibility to have temporary configuration settings.
• Added choice of which UltiSID causes the LED strip to light up.
• Added a Visual SID addressing editor.
• Added detection and real time configuration of FPGASID.
• Added detection and real time configuration of SwinSid Ultimate.
• Added detection and real time configuration of ARMSID.
• Fixed screen title when connecting to the machine through Telnet.
• Added joyswap to the configuration menu.
• Option to use Final Cart V1/V2 re-enabled.
• Upgraded the OS to a newer version.

Unreleased work:

• Flashing the ESP32 WiFi module from the file browser menu.
• “Drive C” – software 1581 emulation by Scott Hutter .

Planned work for the upcoming release:

• Keystrokes to quickly enable / mute audio channels
• Connection between the ESP32 and the C64
• A sample project for the ESP32, which can be used for others to port stuff like modem emulation.

Thanks go to Chris, Marty and Wilfred for providing various SID replacements to test with. Thanks to MarkusC64 for reviewing the FPGASID configuration code and providing useful feedback.

Ultimate 2+ Differences with previous release V3.4c

General Usability and Compatibility:

• Added possibility to load / save and reset configuration settings.
• Added the possibility to have temporary configuration settings.
• Improvements to the 6502 CPU for improved 1541 compatibility.

Improvements to SID player:

• Built-in SID player now supports MUS files as well (including stereo tunes) Music files can be found here: http://www.c64music.co.uk/
• Added support for toggling screen on/off in Sidplayer with S key.
• Added support for song length in SID header.
• Fixed correct SID model selection for SIDFX boards .

Various other bug fixes:

• Copying a file from a container now restores extension.
• Fixed issue of copying file from .t64 files.
• Added ‘Enter’ option for .t64 files.
• User Interface improvements / fixes.
• Fixed telnet connection – removing header upon connect (fixes random copy actions)

——————————————————————-

1541 Ultimate-II Differences with previous release V3.4c.

General Usability and Compatibility:

• Added possibility to load / save and reset configuration settings.
• Added the possibility to have temporary configuration settings.

Improvements to the 6502 CPU for improved 1541 compatibility:

• Improvements to SID player:
  • Built-in SID player now supports MUS files as well (including stereo tunes) Music files can be found here: http://www.c64music.co.uk/
• Added support for toggling screen on/off in Sidplayer with S key.
• Added support for song length in SID header.
• Fixed correct SID model selection for SIDFX boards.

Various other bug fixes:

• Copying a file from a container now restores extension.
• Fixed issue of copying file from .t64 files.
• Added ‘Enter’ option for .t64 files.
• User Interface improvements / fixes.
• Fixed telnet connection – removing header upon connect (fixes random copy actions)
• Changed default hostname to match target.

Dropped features:

• Support for the ISO9660 filesystem.
• The audio variant no longer supports recording TAP files. The dual drive version does.

Download:

• U64/Ultimate-64 v1.24 - U2+/U2 v3.6 Firmware (835)

source: ultimate64.com

This computer has kept for many years my BBS “Hidden Power / Nightfall HQ” up until closing, previously the BBS ran on the Amiga 1000 … then A500 and A2000.

I also publish two historical photos of my “BBS Room” where you can see this Amiga 3000 running.

I give a brief description of what was done and what i did today for this computer.

• Year 2001 i have removed the battery and one of the two SCSI Harddisks that was dead.
• Year 2010 i have cleaned the external/internal case and published the photos on the blog.
• Year 2018 i have cleaned the keyboard.
• Year 2019 i have carefully cleaned the motherboard that was covered with a sticky layer of Nicotine (in the BBS Room peoples likes to smoke a lot)
  • Cleaned the Floppy Drive covered inside and outside by a sticky layer of Nicotine, to repair it i had to completely disassemble it.
  • Replaced the Kickstart ROM 2.04 with version 3.1
  • Removed the last died SCSI Harddisk.
  • Installed “new” 250Mb Quantum Maverick SCSI Harddisk.
  • Installed WB 3.1 and MagicWB + a couple of Demos and of course Pinball Dreams Harddisk version.
  • Replaced the WD33C93A SCSI controller chip with AM33C93A-16PC.
  • Cleaned the Keyboard pcb and replacements of the rubber pad, more than 20 keys are died.
  • Removed the Zorro BSC / Alfa Data MultiFace Card 3 (multi Serial) card and installed the Village Tronic Ariadne II (Ethernet Card)

Everything works perfectly as you can see from the photos.

Gallery:

I received as a gift… we start badly,i have recover, we are not there, i purchased, much better, yet another computer from Radio Shack that was missing in my collection.

The computer equipped with several manuals and Floppy Disk was given to me by a dude (thanks Scott) from the United States, he had written “near mint” and is this phrase that attracted me.

The Computer is a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4 (GATE ARRAY) therefore of last production with cathode ray tube with green phosphors.

The seller was not joking saying that it was “near mint” and working, the computer is kept very well it almost seems like it has never been used, it can be observed from the cathode tube, from the pcb of the monitor and from the flyback transformer, keyboard, External and internal Case and from the power supply, the usual ASTEC, which has never warmed up, perfect.

The warranty sticker was also intact.

Since there was nothing to clean/repair i have made some hardware enhancements and little replacements.

What i have done:

• Replacement of the 3 filter capacitors (RIFA) which i usually remove and i don’t replace.
• Converted the ASTEC power supply from 115V to 230v because this version of the power supply allows it because has a 115v/230v switching.
• Replaces the 115v power plug with a schuko.
• Various labels to identify the computer has been converted to 220v.
• Installed 64k RAM to update the Model 4 to 128k (blue wire mod as well)
• Dual ROM to BOOT from FreHD or from Floppy Drive. I have used the Jim Brain ROM-el 2364 which uses a Flash ROM (AT49F001AN) but with a standard Mask ROM 2364 pinout.
• Installed a switch for Dual ROM hidden in the ventilation slots without drilling the case.

All test are made with the FreHD interface by Ian Mavric.

Gallery:

123►

Download: TRS-80 M4 GA Dual Boot ROM (755)

Hoxs64 written by David Horrocks is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven (DirectX 9+)

The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.

Changelog (v1.0.23):

• Allow PC joystick to control up to 5 C64 keys.
• Monitor refresh option added to emulation video settings.

Download:

• Hoxs64 32/64 bit/Win98k v1.0.23 (841)

source: hoxs64.net

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:

• Spaceware Shuttle Designer
• Stercore XD +1D
• Stercore 64 +1D
• Endless Forms Most Beautiful 64 +
• C64 Chess Preview
• Numen Engine Preview
• Endless Forms Most Beautiful 64 +3D
• Swarm 16k V1.1.0
• Endless Forms Most Beautiful 64 V1.1 +3D
• Swarm 16k V1.1.0 &D
• Forgotten Worlds +13DI
• SIDWAVE Shooter [seuck]
• 4M Arena [disk]
• LVDVS Preview
• Wug +
• Killer Bees V4 +2HF
• X-Out +6DGI
• War2One Preview
• Donkey Trolls Preview +3H
• Railroad Tycoon +D
• Racing Destruction Set
• Racing Destruction Set [easyflash]
• Berks Four
• Berks Four +3
• Minesweeper 2019
• Spider Maze Tutorial Preview +
• Testgame Preview +
• Let’s Make a C64 Game Preview
• Stay Alive +M
• Chopper Command +D
• Chopper Command
• Chopper Command +1D
• Chopper Command +3D
• Helicopter Game Preview
• TRogue64 Preview +3DF
• Duel Intro +1HF
• Berks Four V1.1
• Swarm 16k V1.1.0 +D
• Desatranques Jaén [seuck]
• 4M Arena +3 [disk version]
• Masquerade +D
• Budokan +3DFI
• Beat Em Up Preview 2 +
• SplatThem64
• SplatThem64 +
• Happy Blocks DX
• 4 A Win
• Bombakereső +D
• Bombakereső +CD
• Happy Blocks DX +2D
• Bombakereső (minesweeper)
• Bombakereső +1D
• 4 A Win +F
• Cruiser-X 79 Preview +2D
• Cimbo +D
• Cimbo +
• Banana Republic Preview +3D
• Cimbo +1D
• Cruiser-X 79 Preview +2D
• Mafia Assembler Edition Preview [german]
• Cimbo
• Lhasa Mountain +D
• Dragon Hunter +2D
• Crypt of the Pharaoh +D
• Brick’s Revenge Preview +2
• Mafia Assembler Edition Preview
• Mr T’s Money Box +D
• Mr T’s Alphabet Games +D
• Mr T Meets His Match +D
• Mr T’s Number Games +D
• Mr T’s Shape Games +D
• Mr T’s Measuring Games +D
• Dragon Hunter +2D
• Croaky +2
• Croaky +2HF
• The Temple of Doom +3FD
• Trogue64 +5H
• Rockball +2D

Download: All Games in One Archive (6135)

source: csdb.dk

This repair was done only for a personal challenge, the computer is still unstable and with several died components.

After a careful cleaning the computer presents these problems:

• TED MOS 8360R2 not working (keyboard doesn’t work) even if i replace the TED doesn’t work, TED also tested on a working C16 doesn’t work.
• PIO MOS 6529 need to be replaced. The keyboard doesn’t work.
• CPU MOS 8501 Dead.
• Joystick ports (see photo)
• Cartridge connector need to be replaced.
• Modulator without lids (Above and Below)
• The sockets of TED and CPU should be replaced.
• Other rusty pieces.

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore 64 repaired ASSY 250425 (1 of 3)

Defect:

• No Video Signal.

Repair:

• Replaced 1 x MOS 8701 R1 (U31)

Commodore 64 repaired ASSY 250425 (2 of 3)

Defect:

• Out of Memory.

Repair:

• Replaced 1 x RAM MT 4264-15 (U21)

Commodore 64 repaired ASSY 250407 (3 of 3)

Defect:

• Garbage Screen.

Repair:

• Replaced 1 x RAM MB 8264A-12 (U22)

The usual modification of a Gotek in HxC this time also with OSD (On Screen Display) support for Amiga 1200.

Gallery:

Video:

source: hxc2001.com

I have received from a friend two Sinclair ZX-81 to repair and taking advantage of the “sinclair” moment :-D i have also repaired one of my ZX-81 that is died staying off for years :-(

Two out of three ZX-81 have the ULA dead, while the third had a dead membrane and some short circuits caused by someone who don’t know how to unsolder/solder properly.

I have recovered the ULA from this last one and repaired the better one of the two ZX-81, i have also installed the Video Composite mod using the ZX8-CCB kit.

I have also repaired my ZX-81 always with the ULA dead and installed the Video Composite mod using the ZX8-CCB kit.

I thank Marco Lucarelli for giving me the Video Composite mod and giving me one of the two ZX-81 (without ULA / dead Membrane and short circuits) for spare parts.

Gallery of the repair:

I have replaced all the electrolytic capacitors of this Amiga 600 motherboard.

Gallery of the repair: