SD-1000/PiCOLECO/PiRTO-II are Flash Multicarts for Sega SC3000/SG-1000,CBS ColecoVision,Mattel Intellivision by Andrea Ottaviani based on the cheap version of the Raspberry Pi Pico clone (purple PCB).

I wanted to try and assemble this interesting project and i must say that i was very satisfied. I also contacted Andrea for a small problem of loading the ROMs for the Multicart Intellivision and he was immediately available even though it was Sunday lunch time :-)

I assembled two Multicarts for each console model because as soon as i informed my friend Andry about this project he wanted them too :-D

The Multicarts you see in this article are NOT for sale, for more information about firmware,flashing fw,gerber,3D case model i recommend you visit the github site where these projects are published.

• SD-1000: https://github.com/aotta/SD-1000
• PiCOLECO: https://github.com/aotta/PiCOLECO
• PiRTO II: https://github.com/aotta/PiRTOII

How much did i spend for each multicart?

• 6 x Raspberry Purple Pi Pico clone (Aliexpress): €18.12
• 5 x JLCPCB PiCOLECO PCB: €1.87
• 5 x JLCPCB PiRTO II PCB: €3.74
• 5 x JLCPCB SD-1000: €3.74
• 1 x JLCPCB Shipping Charge: €6.66
• 1 x JLCPCB Customs duties & taxes: €3.52
• 1 x JLCPCB PAYPAL FEE: €0.47
• 6 x Diode 1N4148 (spare parts)
• 2 x Transistor BC547 (spare parts)
• 2 x Angled Push Button (spare parts)
• 4 x Push Button (spare parts)

More or less for each single Flash Multicart complete with all components you will spend around €6.00.

This includes the components that i already had at home and the minimum order from JLCPCB for each PCB which are 5 pieces, as a result i did the division on the JLCPCB invoice total.

Download the ROMs for Sega SC3000/SG-1000, ColecoVision, Intellivision (including CFG mappers) fully renamed and divided into folders in alphabetical order here.

Flash Multicarts Cartridge Case Shell Cover:

The last photo with a small modification of the hole to insert colored button covers.

 

How to update the firmware with the case closed? You have to press the button on the PI Pico Purple while inserting USB-C for firmware updating.
Totally excluded unscrewing and retightening the screws each time, so 1.5mm micro hole in the right position, perfect.

 

 

Gallery:

12►

.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.

SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.

Changelog:

• This release contains the fix for the NTSC-specific bug of firmware version 0.20.

Note:

There are different .uf2-files are firmware files with PWM and/or DAC output, flashing (RGB-)LED on/off AND for hardware revision 0.1 and 0.2.

Review:

My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.

Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.201 (414)

source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico restore-store.de

A new version of the firmware for the Ultimate U2+L by Gideon is released.

Changes in 3.11a:

• WiFi support – Now that the WiFi modules for the U2+L are available, you will need this firmware to enable it. In this zip there are two files; the firmware update for the cartridge itself (.u2l) file and the firmware file for the ESP WiFi module (.esp). They have to be applied in this order.
• Ethernet fix – Improves compatibility with some switches and routers. The LAN should now work with these.
• Garbled characters fix. – On some machines, especially on NTSC machines, the 3.11 firmware gave some timing issues. This build should fix that.
• Ulticopy fix – In 3.11 Ulticopy was broken; it should work again – supposedly – not tested.

Due to “life” (e.g. house renovation) there has not been any time for testing this firmware for other hardware platforms. Will come soon.

Download: Ultimate U2+L v3.11a Firmware (556)

source: ultimate64.com github.com facebook

.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.

SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.

Changelog:

• FM emulation
• built-in PRG launcher
• Some bugfixes, better stability (e.g. paddle/mouse handling).

Note:

There are different .uf2-files are firmware files with PWM and/or DAC output, flashing (RGB-)LED on/off AND for hardware revision 0.1 and 0.2.

Review:

My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.

Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.20 (452)

source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico restore-store.de

The return of the Hybrid Sid Player by xAD/Nightfall

Based on the Project and Hardware Schematic by Markus Gritsch released in the years 2011-2015 on the forum dangerousprototypes. Thanks Markus.

Changelog:

v2.00 – 11/5/2024

Added:

• Added a new parameter in the configuration file (config.ini).
  • Now you can also choose the FPGASid as well as the ARMSID for SID auto switching.

Below is an excerpt from the “config.ini” file.

# FPGASid/Armsid Auto Switching (0:Disabled – 1:Socket #1 – 2:Socket #2) – default: 0
# When you use this mode the other socket it does not activate automatically.
FPGASID_SOCKET=0

• Implemented auto switching for the FPGASid.

When choosing this mode the FPGASid must be installed ONLY in one of the two sockets,  you must also choose which socket to use for the FPGASid by editing the configuration file.

When configuring auto switching for the FPGASid during boot the SID Player is displayed the message “FPGASid Socket #” followed by the socket number where the FPGASid was configured in the configuration file.  This message is intended only to inform you that the configuration has been correctly activated.

*** Please read if you want to use the FPGASid in Auto Switching mode ***

The status LED indicating the SID that is used to play the song will remain fixed on the socket where the FPGASid was installed, therefore it will not change between Socket #1 and Socket #2.

The display of the SID model from the music track being played will consequently be displayed Only on the display.

The ‘sidSet’ mode will work exactly as before, the only difference is that if no SID is installed in the other Socket no sound will be played :-D while if a SID model 6581 or 8580 is installed you will be able to compare the fidelity of the FPGASid by switching between the two SIDs (obviously better if the same model).

The configuration of the model of the Sid with which to play the piece of music in the configuration file although working in this case it is to be considered Virtual because we would no longer have a change of state between Sockets for each SID model, therefore i decided to assign a static numbering to the SID.

• Write 1 for the SID 8580 model
• Write 2 for the SID 6581 model

For files in DMP format (conversion from RSID to RAW) playback is automatically forced with the 8580 SID of the FPGASid.

Jumpers to configure if the FPGASid is installed:

• Filter capacitors (JP4/JP5 or JP6/JP7): Does not matter.
• SID voltage 9v/12v (JP2 or JP3): Does not matter.
• Resistor 1k (JP10 or JP15): Better to remove.

Updated:

• Slightly fixed timing for SID song playback. Unnoticeable problem :-D

Fixed:

• Config.ini Parser BUG. The “ARMSID_SOCKET” parameter was not read correctly.

NOTE: The SID Player currently only supports the FPGASID for SID auto switching.

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:

• Stranded &S
• Cybernoid II +17HDF
• T.G.I.F.
• Lykkehjulet [danish] [cartridge/floppy]
• Hidden Key +3H *Hokuto Force*
• Hidden Key
• Space Rendez Vous +3D
• Uridium +7DH [any drive fix]
• Castle Wolfenstein +8DG *Hokuto Force*
• Hermanos +2DG
• The Secret of Monkey Island V1.3
• Spediteur +D
• Protector II +8HD
• The Deep +7DGHI *Hokuto Force*
• Scuttle +6DG
• People Eage’s Reloaded Enhanced +4
• The Chaos Engine Preview
• Incrediball 10
• Dan The Digger 10
• Freax Preview +1J
• The Chaos Engine Preview +1D
• Cybertron Mission +3HD V3
• WoordSpel [dutch]
• The Shining +1FD
• The End Preview *Hokuto Force*
• Junks Preview *Hokuto Force*
• Blob Preview *Hokuto Force*
• Asteroids Preview *Hokuto Force*
• 8bit Wars Preview *Hokuto Force*
• Freax Preview 2 +1J
• Steel +2HFD V2
• The Buried Citadel &SMap
• Congo Bongo +5DGHM 101%
• Night Mission Pinball Extended
• Saunakeppijumppa
• Bagman Comes Back V1.3 +3D
• Lady Pac V1.9 +2
• Night Breed +6DGI *Hokuto Force*
• Kuusneppis Preview
• Bagman Strikes Back V1.3 +3D
• Looter – Haunted Castle Preview 2 +
• Static: Flowerhorn Attack Preview +2D
• Slayer +8DH *Hokuto Force*
• A1RL0CK
• 6Fourdle &G *Hokuto Force*
• Avventura 1 (Fantasy) – Versione Commerciale
• Herby +3D
• The Chaos Engine Preview 2 +1D
• Kondi Krush +1D
• Tunnelrun!
• Tunnelrun! +1G *Hokuto Force*
• Power Pong +D
• Legend of Wilf +1D
• Mike Mech V1.3 +4D
• Escape the Room +S
• Tutankham Returns V1.1 +5D
• Key Maze +3DT
• Tutankham V1.1 +5D
• Mutant Master +G
• Quests +
• Metal Mayhem +
• Spy Agent Deathmatch Preview +D
• Spinning Image +1D
• Alpacalypse
• Alpacalypse +8CD
• Mike Mech V1.3 +4D
• Legend of Wilf V1.0.1 +2D
• Cats ‘n Critters +3D
• Cats ‘n Critters +1D
• Hexapawn +TD
• Hammurabi
• Kazik in the Underworld of Tema +3D
• Orc Attack +3DGH *Hokuto Force*
• The Elves of Maroland +DS&Map
• Phantomas III: The Return of Brok Preview 2 +2D
• Phantomas III: The Return of Brok Preview 2 + *Hokuto Force*
• Stack Jump Preview *Hokuto Force*
• AntiAir +3
• AntiAir +1D
• Jawbreaker Preview *Hokuto Force*
• FPS Preview *Hokuto Force*
• Santa’s Troubles V1.2 +9D
• Identity Wars – Amiga vs Atari ST +D
• Elasto Mania (bugfixed) +D
• Transylvania +DIW *Hokuto Force*
• Luftschaffner
• The Siege +G
• Hexapawn V1.8 +TD
• Maze Thriller +2D
• BasicBlok [dutch]
• Old Mansion Preview +D
• Gacek Preview +3
• Tutankham V1.1 +6D
• Pancho +5HDG
• Spinning Image V1.1 +1D
• Tutankham Returns V1.1 +6D
• Castle Belmar [english/spanish]
• SEUCK Left Scroll
• The Meteorologist +1D
• Bronx +S
• Tanks Preview &G *Hokuto Force*
• Music Painter +D
• Drip +5HD
• Cash 2000
• Drip +4D
• Labyrinth Adventure &D
• Impossible Mission Revised
• Tapper 1.6 &DG *Hokuto Force*
• Frantic Freddy +3D

Download: All Games in One Archive (2397)

source: csdb.dk

First of all, i thank my friend who gave me his Sega SC-3000 found in the attic.

After a thorough cleaning of the cartridge connector, keyboard contacts and general cleaning of the internal/external case, the computer started working perfectly again.

Gallery:

After almost 18 years since the last time I had used this USB interface (eMPIA with EM2820 chipset) for acquisition of analog video signals i was curious to try if it still worked, especially due to a driver problem.

Well what can i say, it works perfectly with both video inputs Composite and S-Video, S-Video is the input that i’m using now with a Commodore 64.

Tested with Linux (Driver included in the Kernel) and with Windows 10 (Windows 8 drivers installed).

As a software i used Guvcview for Linux and VLC for Windows.

Gallery:

The Shugart SA455-3AA is a DSDD Floppy Disk Drive (360K).

The work that has been done:

• Replacement of the Electrolytic Capacitors on the Motor PCB.
• Greasing the head sliding rods with silicone grease.
• Reconstruction of the pcb track corroded by the loss of the 10uf electrolytic capacitor.
• Replacement terminals for selection with jumpers.
• Ceramic capacitor replacement.
• General cleaning.
• Read/write test with GreaseWeazle interface.

List of replaced electrolytic capacitors:

• 1 x 10uf 25v
• 1 x 47uf 16v
• 1 x 0.47uf 50v
• 1 x 0.22uf 50v
• 2 x 22uf 25v (non-polarized)

Gallery:

Download: Shugart SA455-SA465 Service Manual (440)

I decided to replace completely the PCB of the Amiga Power Supply (312503-03) because although after replacing all capacitors 1 year ago (30/4/2023) the voltages are not always stable, especially the 5V which fluctuated between 5.2v and 6.9v.

Using a Gotek HXC drive as a floppy device has burned two USB sticks, i recovered one replacing a shorted smd capacitor.

So let’s retire the old power supply pcb and welcome to the Mean Well RPT-60B fully compatible about voltage and amperage.

I leave you the Aliexpress link.

Gallery: