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: 
+ many more….
Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.1.0.4a:
Major update!
- New direct file formats support (Read & Write !) :
- Acorn machines : *.ADL,*.ADM,*.SSD,*.DSD and *.ADF file support
- Camputer Lynx : *.LDF
- Commodore C64 : *.D81
- Thomson machines : *.FD
- Sam Coupé : *.SAD, *.MGT
- MSX Machines : *.IMG, *.DSK
- Spectrum : *.TRD, *.SDD
- New menu entry : Target system family selection.
- This reduce a lot the risk of erroneous raw file identification.
- Lots of RAW file support improvements :
- All sector sizes supported, advanced track skew and interleaving support.
- FM & MFM support.
- Amstrad CPC DSK support : Fix for the One Disk/double sided Batman demo.
- Fix attempt of the “diymore.cc” OLED screens : OLED init screen delay menu option added.
- (Note : Please avoid these “diymore.cc” screens until i got an idea what is the root cause of the issue.)
- Internal improvement : Track cache layer improved, RAW files support/identification improved.
Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.33.12a:
- Extra LCD size option added :
- 2×40 characters (for 2×40 I2C-HD44780 screens)
- Clear internal settings function : Press “up” button at power up to Clear the settings with the default values.
- SP1200 write support fix.
This is only a little part of the changelog. The original one is very long and you can read it here.
Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.1.0.4a (1032)
source: hxc2001.com
The Atari 820 printer provided Atari 400/800 users with a quick and simple printer. No drivers or special interfaces were needed.
The Atari 820 printer plugged directly onto the Atari SIO bus and allowed users the ability to make 40 column printouts which were good for tracking finances, printing out program listings and other files. The printer made an interesting sound which could only be described as a washing machine.
Gallery:
source: atarimuseum.com
Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.
Onslaught / Offence / Vandalism News Staff, bring to you the 67th issue of the Vandalism News.
Download:
source: csdb.dk
Complete collection of Nintendo Classic Mini & Accessories.
There is not much to say about this photo, i love Nintendo and i wanted all versions of Nintendo Classic Mini.
Gallery:
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:
- Mr. Wong’s Loopy Laundry +4
- Mr. Wong’s Loopy Laundry
- Border Blast 3 [enhanced] [seuck]
- Ball
- Giełda’96 [polish]
- Breathalyzer
- Ball +D
- Zeta-7 +2DGF
- Moonspire: The Draxx War – Preview
- Minima Reloaded V1.2 +4DG
- QWAK 1.3 +4
- Ball +3D
- Bacillus Preview 2a +3
- Cookie +D
- Breathalyzer
- Cookie +
- Petunia Pickle’s Pumpkin Preview +D
- Cookie +2D
- Cookie
- Ant Attack +6DG
- Space Shooter Preview
- Cookie +3D
- Petunia Pickle’s Pumpkin Preview +4D
- Gruniozerca +2D
- Gruniozerca +D
- Penetrator +3DG
- Penetrator +3D 101%
- 2K Race
- 2K Race Crack
- Sadistomatic +3
- More… what?! +
- More… what?!
- Chakram +2 [seuck]
- QWAK 1.3 +4CHD
- Jeep Command +3D
- Mutants +4D
- Eddie Kidd Jump Challenge +2D
- Seabase Delta +D
- Highway Encounter +4D
- Mr. Wimpy +5D
- Bosconian 87 +3D
- Gribbly’s Special Day Out +5DH
- Gribbly’s Day Out +5DHF
- Akalabeth Preview
- Sky Runner +5D 101%
Download: All Games in One Archive (4576)
source: csdb.dk
Works that have been made on this Amiga 2000:
- Replaced the power plug with capacitors inside.
- Replaced PSU capacitors.
- Cleaning the motherboard with the toothbrush and PCC Kontakt.
Gallery:
Hanimex 2650/Arcadia 2001/GIG Leonardo (loose) Repair & Composite Video Output.
I start to say that this motherboard was not in repair but in one box of spare parts. I have only the motherboard of this console, no external case, joystick, power supply … totally useless.
Past and present defects:
- Some time ago the two EMF coils are exploded (see the photo) maybe the capacitor was in short circuit after the two coils
- Also a capacitors near the coils is disappeared.
- Black and White video output.
Repair and Video Composite modding:
- I have bypassed the two coils for the 12v DC.
- Removed the RF modulator.
- I have cutted 3 resistors for the video composite output, you can get a better image (contrast and color) (see photo)
- Replaced a 4066 because are missing two outputs of the R-G-B signal and that’s why the image was in black and white.
- Added a temporary push button for the RESET.
- The console without the RF modulator can be powered at 9v DC and not 12v DC, thus avoiding boiling the poor 7805.
Gallery of the repair:
Download:
This Video Composite MOD needs some work unlike other similar consoles, you need to remove a resistor and insert a trimmer, otherwise the Video Composite output signal is really bad.
Works that need to be done:
- Remove the RF Modulator (remove it completely)
- Remove the 4.7k Resitor (see photo)
- Solder a 22k Trimmer between the resistor hole (hole side to pin 8 of the TEA 1002/PE1X) and the ground, the third pin of the trimmer is the Video Composite output. (see photo)
- Solder a wire for the Audio output. (see photo)
- Use the same hole of the RF cable for the new video and audio cable.
Before closing everything i recommend to adjust the trimmer for the best Video output.
Gallery of the Video Composite MOD:
The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System (Acetronic MPU-1000) is a home video game console released by European company Audiosonic in 1978.
It is part of a group of software-compatible consoles which include the Interton VC-4000 and the Voltmace Database. The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System included its power pack inside the console instead of an exterior power pack.
Specifications:
- CPU: 8-bit Signetics 2650AI at 4.43 MHz
- Audiovisual co-processor (video chipset, I/O Processor): Signetics 2636N at 3.58 MHz, addressing 32Kb of memory in 8Kb banks. This chipset was less powerful than the later model Signetics 2637N used in the Arcadia 2001.
- Data Memory: 43 bytes.
Graphics:
- Sprites: 4 single colour sprites (1 can be 8 colours)
- 1 Score line displaying 4 BCD digits.
- Background consisting of a series of alternating lines.
Misc:
- The early games cartridges used a 2 KByte ROM, later ones, such as Activision branded ones, up to 8 KBytes
- Very basic arcade machine sound.
User programming:
An expensive (£49 in the UK in 1977) Hobby Module was available which gave 6.5 kb of user-programmable memory and had a 5 pin DIN socket to allow software to be saved to a cassette tape player.
This converted the unit into a halfway house between a home computer and an ordinary gaming console.
The user had to be familiar with programming in Signetics 2650 assembly language and the unconventional ways and register architecture of the Signetics 2650 processor. For example, on many other processors an opcode 0 indicates “no operation” whereas on the 2650 it instructs the processor to Branch To Address In Immediate Register B.
This was a source of many software debugging hassles for budding home programmers.
Gallery:
source: wikipedia
Gotek HXC Alpha Firmware with OLED Display.
You can download here the Alpha Firmware Update.
Gallery:
source: hxc2001.com
Commodore Amiga A570 Restoration.
I have received two retro things in very bad conditions.
- 1 x Floppy Drive CD-1411
- 1 x Commodore Amiga CDROM A570
… but for now we are talking about the Commodore A570.
The Commodore A570 have serious problems that i list below:
- Outside case is very dirty, yellowed and broken in several parts.
- The Caddy Guide Tracks has been destroyed.
- Damaged screws thread.
- The metal plate under the CDROM is bent on one side.
- Many rusty parts.
- Main PCB with traces of water/limestone and rust.
Works that have been made:
- Fixed the CDROM CADDY holder, it was not easy because all the metal guides are bent, now it works.
- Main PCB cleaning on both sides with the Kontakt PCC and toothbrush.
- Cleaned and grease the two rails of the laser head.
- Cleaned the head lens of the CDROM.
- Fixed the bent metal plate under the CDROM.
- Cleaning outer casing.
- Fixed with the glue the two pins for closing the case with the screws.
Work still to be done:
- The bottom part of the A570 CDROM is very rusty, i need to sand down gently and at least give a hand of anti rust.
Aesthetically is very bad but at least works.
Gallery of the restoration:
Video:
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