Here you can see some photo of the first version of the 1541 Ultimate II tape extender. With the latest firmware it’s now possible capture tape data to a .TAP file!

source: 1541ultimate.net

Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is a hardware replacement for legendary SID sound chip which was placed in every Commodore C64 computer.

This project is based on the microcontroller ATMEGA88PU from Atmel and the emulation code is written by Swinkels. The first version of the pcb (prototype) was made by Crisp.

On the left you can see the tiny PCB of the Micro SwinSID made by a user of the forum64.de.

*This PCB is compatible with Commodore 64 and 64C but you need to Remove the resistor R3 if you install the Micro SwinSID on Commodore 64/SX64 where the SID 6581 is used.

For more information and price visit the forum64.de.

from C64scene homepage:

Tomi Malinen is currently developing a dual SID board, although there are other solutions available for your C64 this one is interesting because of the ability to use either 6581 or 8580 as SID #2 no matter the board revision.

This means that you can play games with 6581 sound from the first channel and 8580 sound from the second.

Other features of the dual SID board are:

• Small board, only about 40mm x 50mm.
• SID #2 address jumper selectable between D400, D420, D500, DE00, DF00.
• MSSIAH-compatibility at DE00.
• Full game compatibility with double mono setting at D400.

Installation requires soldering, two wires attach to the cartridge port and two have to be soldered to the Kernal IC. When the SID #2 is mapped to D400, D420, D500 the wires to the cartridge port are not used.

Photo of both protypes installed:

source: c64scene.com lemon64.com

Autopsy:

12►

My new desoldering station and a magnifying lamp has arrived!

After some frustrating times removing solder on an almost 30 year old PCB i decided to get a desoldering station.

So after using this for a few hours what one word can I use to describe this station? AWESOME! I don’t know how i lived without this in the past. Using desoldering braid or a soldapullt is OK but not consistent.

Package content of Aoyue 474A+:

• 474 Station.
• Desoldering Gun.
• Filter pads 6pcs.
• Silicone Grease.
• Filter pipe.
• Nozzle cleaning pins.
• Power cord.
• Desoldering gun holder.

source: aoyue.com

This is the last notice for the Ultimate 1541 version 2.

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

• It is now possible to order accessories for the 1541U-II. This is possible through the “Order Status” page. In case your unit has already been shipped, please create another order of 0 (zero) 1541U-II units, and add the accessories to that order.
• Tape connector boards have been ordered. Expect 150 of them in about 2 weeks. One board clicks under the 1541-II case; the other holds the 2×6 pin tape connector and tape feed-through. The two boards connect to each other using a standard 10-pin flat cable. The part that clicks under the 1541-II case can also be used to power the cartridge for stand-alone mode (requires software update). I am planning to ship the tape connector boards as build-it-yourself kits to keep it cheap. Assembly possible for a small extra fee.
• If you paid after June 1, you will need to wait until the new production batch is finished. You will receive an E-mail about this soon! (Refund possible..)

Read more…

USB-64 – Turning Commodore 64 into a USB host for Mass Storage Drives.

The prototype uses two devices:

• A cartridge to provide software and commands to operate the USB device.
• A user-port device that interfaces with the USB stick.

With the proto-type it is possible to transfer files at 1.2 kB/s (serial) or 9.5 kB/s parallel.

source: luigidifraia.com

Manosoft has released a new version of his C64SD.

The Italian developer Damiano Colombari based the C64SD design on the already existing SD2IEC solution.

The major differences from the previous one are the aluminum box and a female IEC connector for connect external Floppy Drive or other devices.

Click here for the Video Demostration.

source: c64sd.roxer.com c64wiki sd2iec c64wiki sd2iec firmware

The Pocket 1541 is a emulator for the 1541 disk drive. Pocket 1541 uses a SD card to store your data, supported formats are: D64, M2I, PRG, D71, D81 and P00.

The firmware is based on the open source SD2IEC firmware. The device has four buttons and a LCD screen that can be used to navigate to the required files on the SD card.

source: commodore-gg.hobby.nl pocket 1541 homepage

This is the last notice for the Ultimate 1541 version 2.

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

• 184 Ultimate-II units shipped.
• The last few (5) will be shipped out tomorrow….
• If you paid after June 1, you will need to wait until the new production batch is finished.  (Refund possible..)
• New production startup in progress!
• Unprocessed payments will be processed before the end of the week (week 27). Please hold your payments until further notice!
• Question of redistributing the Free Xilinx tools within a virtual machine is under review by the legal department of Xilinx. If they approve, I can provide the planned virtual machine; if not, I will need to write instructions on how you can instal the tools separately.
• Last firmware version: 2.0RC4. Downloadable update available by end of week 28.

source: 1541ultimate.net

Luigi Di Fraia is working on version 3 of his DC2N. The DC2N is a digital replacement for the C2N datassette. With the DC2N you can read cassettes and transfer the data to a memory-card.

It is also possible to save data from a memory-card to a datassette. The DC2N is a stand alone system, what means you can do the transfers without a computer.

The newest version has USB support and uses a graphical screen to show the signal that is recorded. You can watch various videos of the DC2N on youtube.

source: commodore-gg.hobby.nl

Autopsy:

For a new review see the italian version of this article.

from C64Scene Homepage: This project is interesting not only because it’s another mass-storage solution but because it combines already existing solutions to a new and fresh product. Damiano has always followed all the Commdore related websites and forums especially concerning the MMC and SD2IEC projects.

That’s when he got the idea to build a solution for which one doesn’t need soldering, wire cutting or the IEC cable. C64SD utilizes the Datasette connector to power the SD2IEC circuit. An IEC connector connects right into the IEC port.

The whole module stand vertical along the back of the C64 (or VIC20). The module is fitted with two rather large buttons, one reset and one diskswap/multi-function button.

SD-CARD Tested:

SANDISK SD-CARD 2GB = 100% WORKING.
CORSAIR SD-CARD 512MB = 100% WORKING.

source: c64sd.roxer.com c64wiki sd2iec c64wiki sd2iec firmware

from 1541 Ultimate homepage:

Finally, the software for the 1541 Ultimate II is finished. In the last two weeks, an enormous amount of work has been done:

• USB is now working stable, including insertion and removal.  (My external 500 GB harddisk was detected flawlessly!)
• Support for USB devices with multiple LUNs (like card readers)
• GCR (G64) supported added, including write (the Ultimate-I couldn’t do this)
• T64 file support re-integrated.
• Tape support, using TAP files (I needed to test the hardware anyway!)
• Comprehensible menus.
• Real time clock functional  (still need a clock widget…)
• I made a wooden mould, to simplify closing the plastic cases without damaging them.

The plan is, to ship the first 40~50 units this coming Wednesday! The remaining units will follow as soon as possible!  Thank you for your patience!

source: 1541ultimate.net

Introduction: The idea behind Cassadapt was to give Commodore computer enthusiasts yet another choice for interfacing their beloved old computers to modern PC’s to either record a .tap/,prg file to a Datassette or playback a Datassette to the PC to capture as a .wav file to then convert to a .tap file.

Cassadapt converts audio signals from your PC’s sound card to digital 0-5V data that can be recorded to a real C2N / 1531 Datassette or played directly in to the C64, C16 etc., even without the need for a real Datassette connected.

With the use of fantastic programs like TapWav, TAPClean and WAV-PRG, Cassadapt is the play-record loop tape enthusiasts are looking for.

Click here for the Instructions Manual.

source: lemon64.com

from c64scene.com Homepage:

Manosoft reached a version 2 milestone with his new mass-storage project, C64SD. The Italian developer Damiano Colombari based the C64SD design on the already existing SD2IEC solution.

This project is interesting not only because it’s another mass-storage solution but because it combines already existing solutions to a new and fresh product.

Damiano has always followed all the Commdore related websites and forums especially concerning the MMC and SD2IEC projects. That’s when he got the idea to build a solution for which one doesn’t need soldering, wire cutting or the IEC cable.

Read more…

from the homepage:

• C2NPower: Powering CBM products can prove harder than initially thought. Many manufacturers choose the safe (and professional) route of including a power jack on the product and a plug-in power supply (wall wart). It’s a safe choice, but it carries a double cost. Power supplies tend to be $5.00 or so, and are often bulky and heavy, adding to shipping costs. On the consumer side, there’s a cost in finding another open outlet for the power supply and cable management. [continue here]

• X-Pander 3: In my continuing effort to sell more products for your Commodore computer, I determined users would buy more cartridge-based solutions if they could plug more into their machine at one time :-) Thus, given the lack of cartridge expansion options on the market at present, I am producing the X-Pander. Modeled off the CMD EX-3, CMD EX2+1, and the FB-3XP. [continue here]

source: jbrain.com