E’ stato rilasciato da Nobomi un nuovo aggiornamento firmware per l’ARM2SiD.

News features and fixes in FW 3.6:

• Compared to version 3.5, a quick response in stereo mode was added (when using a second socket), the dual-mono mode is activated without timeout when both socket is addressed in the same time.
• Also upper addresses mapping is fixed in the update (sometimes misaligned address detection in the update application).
• The “blind” FW 3.6 update updated without reading the registers during the update (especially useful if you have a problem with ARMSID detection)

Download:

• ARM2SiD v3.6 (563)

If you have wired A5/A8 address lines, you can try 3SID files modified for D400h, D420h, and D500h addresses.

• 3SID files modified for D400h, D420h, and D500h (559)

source: dzi.n.cz/8bit/arm2sid

Robotron 2084 (TI-99/4a) – Cartridge by Fabrizio Corpetti [FACELE.EU]

Ringrazio Fabrizio Corpetti [FACELE.EU] per avermi fatto avere tramite Ciro Barile [TI99IUC.IT] la versione del PCB assemblato della cartuccia Robotron 2084 per TI-99/4a.

Come scrive Ciro, questa cartuccia non e’ mai stata commercializzata dalla AtariSoft, l’unica cosa che si puo’ trovare in rete e’ il DUMP della ROM.

Galleria:

Atari 800XL miglioramenti Hardware.

Ho deciso di aggiornare il mio Atari 800XL con alcune interfacce disponibili sul sito di Lotharek.

Situazione attuale del mio Atari 800XL:

• Ultimate 1MB from Sebastian Bartkowicz (Candle) con l’ultimo Bios di FJC.
• VBXE + DIN Connector for RGB/Audio Output (Rimosso Modulatore RF)
• Simple Stereo + U-Switch + Jack Stereo 3.5 per l’uscita Audio.
• SIDE 2 / AVG Cartridge

Nuove interfacce installate:

• P-Covox + Jack Stereo 3.5 per l’uscita Audio.
• SRAM 64Kb.

Dopo aver installato il modulo SRAM 64Kb ho rimosso anche questa serie di circuiti integrati che non vengono più utilizzati dall’Atari 800XL.

• 8 X RAM NEC 4164C
• 2 x SN74LS158N
• 1 x DM74LS51N
• 1 x SN74LS375N
• 1 x Delay Line EP8212 (C060472-D)

Galleria:

Riparazione Atari 800XL con la linea di ritardo mancante EP8212 (CO60472).

Grazie al Modulo SRAM 64Kb di Lotharek sono stato in grado di resuscitare un’Atari 800XL a cui mancava la linea di ritardo EP8212 (CO60472) che non è più disponibile come pezzi di ricambio.

Per avere maggiori informazioni sul SRAM 64Kb Module visitate il sito di lotharek.

Galleria:

Hoxs64 scritto da David Horrocks e’ un’ottimo Emulatore di Commodore 64 per Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven (DirectX 9+).

Changelog (v1.0.21.1):

• The debugger now displays and parses all numbers using the current selected radix (hex or dec) while permitting the use of “$” and “.” as radix overrides.
• Fixed broken loading of a cartridge with in a save state file.
• Bug fix for randomly distributing keyboard and joystick input into the video frame.
• Changed ANE to use 0xEF as the magic constant as recommended by Groepaz.

Download:

• Hoxs64 32/64 bit v1.0.21.1 (609)

source: hoxs64.net

Materiale retro che mi e’ stato regalato prima di essere cestinato.

Ringrazio Robert per per la donazione.

Lista del materiale:

• Commodore Amiga 500 (Alimentatore/Manuale/Floppy Disk/Mouse/Joystick Slik Stik)
• Commodore A501 REV 6C (Espansione di Memoria)
• Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16k (Alimentatore/Cavi/Manuali/Cassette/Joystick)
• ZX Spectrum Joystick Interface.
• Sony Playstation DualShock (Boxed)
• Sony Playstation 2.
• Tastiera IBM 8525.
• Floppy Drive Esterno 5″1/4 IBM.

Galleria:

Commodore A501 (REV 6C) Espansione di Memoria baciata dalla fortuna.

Perche “fortunata” ? perche’ la batteria utilizzata in questo modulo di Espansione di Memoria (A501) non e’ della VARTA ma GP, queste batterie resistono leggermente di piu’ all’invecchiamento e rilasciano meno acido.

Galleria:

Riparazione Atari 2600 (4-switch units)

Difetto:

• Schermo Nero.

Componenti sostituiti:

• 1 x CPU 6507 (A200)

Galleria della riparazione:

NEW TAG: C64 BIG GAME PACK

E’ stato rilasciato del nuovo Software per Commodore 64.

Titoli:

• Super Mario Bros 64 +5D (CRT/D64)
• 1337 Karate +3DF
• 1337 Karate
• Vegetables V1.1 +1D
• Conflict in Vietnam + Manual
• Gyruss +7HDG
• Panzer +
• Panzer + (Excess)
• Panzer
• Mashed Turtles V3 +F
• Barbie +1F
• Accolade Card Sharks +2D
• Let’s Invade 2 +7D
• Frantic Freddie II +2
• Frantic Freddie II
• Frantic Freddie II +4
• The House on the Other Side of the Storm +D
• Let’s Invade 2
• Up Preview +
• Learning to Add & Subtract +D
• Frantic Freddie II : Frantic Edition (C128)
• Neutron +2D
• Neutron +
• Mission XZ1 +1T
• Xerons +4DFH
• Color Overload +2
• Neutron +6D
• Frantic Freddie II +3
• Alter Ego Male [1581]
• Space Comets +
• ALF – The First Adventure +5
• Behind Closed Doors 3 +DS
• Behind Closed Doors 2 +DS
• Behind Closed Doors 6 +S
• Behind Closed Doors 5 +DS
• Fuddo and Slam +DS
• Behind Closed Doors +DS
• Galaxy +2D
• Vegetables V1.3 +1D
• Barbie +1DF
• Scarper! +5DH
• PET Snake
• Goldrake + [seuck]
• Nono Pixie
• 1nvader +1H
• Mr. Robot Junior +2
• Trzask Tensorskiego +1T
• Tensor 64 +1TG
• Hellcat Ace +D
• Skilat
• Air Rescue +2FD
• Nono Pixie
• C64 Games System
• Star Fortress +2
• X-Invaders +T
• Crazy Cars 2 +2DI
• Fire Breath V1.1 +5HD
• The Silence of the Stones +D
• The Great Escape 115%
• Mig Alley Ace +D
• Top Gunner Collection
• Robots Rumble +6D
• Diamond Bucket
• Robots Rumble +6D
• Robots Rumble [16kb cartridge]
• Tenebra Macabre V1.1 +4D
• Lala Prologue +4DG
• Minimike Preview V2 +
• Tenebra Macabre V1.1 [16kb cartridge]
• Nono Pixie v1.1

Download: All Games in One Archive (6816)

source: csdb.dk

Ero molto incuriosito da quello che aveva scritto ZeroPaige nella descrizione del gioco Super Mario Bros 64, ovvero che sul C64 DTV veniva utilizzata la modalita’ Turbo.

Ho provato il gioco sul mio C64 DTV upgradato e in effetti e’ molto piu’ fluifo, direi perfetto a parte qualche glitch grafico ogni tanto.

Qui di seguito quello che scrive ZeroPaige riguardo la modalita’ Turbo:

Since the NES-processor is clocked (roughly 70%) faster than a stock C64 there can be slowdowns during gameplay. A pixel indicates this on the time-watch graphics in the status bar.

This port will try to detect and use any kind of turbo functionality, such as:

• Commodore 128 (2 MHz in the border)
• C64 DTV
• Schnedler Systems Turbo Master CPU (untested)
• Swisscomp Turbo Processor (untested)
• Rossmoeller Flash 8 (untested)
• CMD SuperCPU Accelerator (untested)

Gallery:

source: lemon64.com

Jean-François DEL NERO (la persona che sta dietro lo sviluppo dell’emulatore Floppy HxC SD) ha recentemente rilasciato una versione del firmware HxC compatibile con il chip STM32 utilizzato nel Floppy Drive Gotek.

Questo significa che possiamo godere di quasi tutte le features che il firmware HxC supporta anche per l’economico Floppy Drive Gotek.

Il bootloader per convertire il floppy drive Gotek in HxC compatibile va acquistato sul sito di HXC 2001 inviando un’email a Jean-François DEL NERO. Il prezzo del bootloader e’ di 10 euro una tantum per ogni Gotek che si vuole aggiornare/convertire. Gli aggiornamenti successivi del software sono gratuti e possono essere fatti da chiavetta USB.

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports: + many more….

USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v3.1.38.2a -> v3.1.60.5a cumulative changelog:

• GeneralMusic S2/S3 : Undocummented floppy format support added + *.gem file extension support.
• Non-gated interface : Ignore the floppy selection line for the head step + Some fixes.
• Motor-ON signal support to emulate properly the “READY” and “INDEX” signals.
• OLED : SSD1305 2.23″ 128×32 OLED screen support added.
• Internal enhancements. (WIP)
• New direct raw format support : Yamaha QX3 format (*.IMG,*.DSK)
• 7 segments screen menu : Add missing system family entries :
  • 15 = Robox RC9400
  • 16 = Kawai
  • 17 = Yamaha QX3
  • 18 = User defined format
  • Gotek I/O Lines Diagnostic/Test mode Since this hardware is quite sensitive to ESD and other electrical issues, the floppy lines can be easily damaged.
  • This new mode allows you to test/check all Gotek’s Input/Output lines with a simple wire.
  • The test must be run with floppy ribbon disconnected from the machine.
  • Once enabled/flashed with the diagnostic firmware, all outputs will toggle every 2 seconds.
  • All inputs states are displayed on the screen.
• Input lines test method :
  • The default input states should be High (1), so to test an input line you have just to connect it to the ground/vss. On the floppy port you just need a jumper to make a contact between the line and the ground.
  • Once the jumper is placed between the line pin and the ground/vss pin the corresping input state should turn to Low (0).
• Output lines test method :
  • All outputs are toggling every 2 seconds during the test.
  • (Note : A 1 ms pulse is sent to the JB output at each toggle to test the buzzer ouput)
  • Connect the output line to test to one input line (use a tested input by the above method) with a simple wire.
  • If the corresponding input status is toggling with the outputs line, then this means that the output line/driver is working properly.
• LCD / OLED / 7 segments screens output/input status definition :
  • LCD/OLED input lines status format : “IN:123456 789AB”
  • 1 or Digit-1-segment-a : Floppy Drive Select line (Pin 10 or 12 or 16 -> Depend on the S0/S1/MO jumper !).
  • 2 or Digit-1-segment-b : Floppy -Direction In (Pin 18)
  • 3 or Digit-1-segment-c : Floppy -Step (Pin 20)
  • 4 or Digit-1-segment-d : Floppy -Write Data (Pin 22)
  • 5 or Digit-1-segment-e : Floppy -Write Enable (Pin 24)
  • 6 or Digit-1-segment-f : Floppy -Head 1 Select (Pin 32)
  • 7 or Digit-1-segment-g : Down push button (left)
  • 8 or Digit-2-segment-a : Up push button (right)
  • 9 or Digit-2-segment-b : Select push button (JA)
  • A or Digit-2-segment-c : Rotary CK (J7-2)
  • B or Digit-2-segment-d : Rotary DIR (J7-1)
  • 7 Segments Digit-3 : ‘h’ when the outputs are high and ‘L’ the outputs are low.
  • 7 Segments Digit-2-segments e,f & g : ON when the outputs are high and OFF the outputs are low.
• Floppy connector pinout :
  • Pin Signal Pin Signal
  • 01 Ground (O)02 -High Density Select
  • 03 Ground 04 Reserved
  • 05 Ground 06 Reserved
  • 07 Ground (O)08 -Index
  • 09 Ground (I)10 -Drive Select 0 (*)
  • 11 Ground (I)12 -Drive Select 1 (*)
  • 13 Ground 14 Reserved
  • 15 Ground (I)16 -Motor Enable (*)
  • 17 Ground (I)18 -Direction In
  • 19 Ground (I)20 -Step
  • 21 Ground (I)22 -Write Data
  • 23 Ground (I)24 -Write Enable
  • 25 Ground (O)26 -Track 0
  • 27 Ground (O)28 -Write Protect
  • 29 Ground (O)30 -Read Data
  • 31 Ground (I)32 -Head 1 Select
  • 33 Ground (O)34 -Diskette Change/Ready
  • (*)Depend on the S0/S1/MO jumper!
• 7 segments screen segments definition :
  • // a
  • // f b
  • // g
  • // e c
  • // d
• Custom firmware option : Blackberry trackball -> Single and double step support.
• Custom firmware option : Extra up/down buttons or navigation switchs on the rotary connectors.
• Some fixes in the user defined image feature.
• Custom firmware option : Display the current track number on the 7 segment screen.
• Custom firmware option : Debug output on the serial port (115200 8N1).
• Custom firmware option : Read pipeline buffer size.
• New system family support : Kawai.
• Blackberry trackball support.
• Track position display changed to when the screen line size is less than 16 characters.
• Fix some OLED fonts glitches.
• New parameter : OLED line alignment.
• New fonts : 8514oem 10×20, xwindow 8×32, unscii 8×32.
• More customization options :
  • 2.42 Inch OLED screen support.
  • 100 khz / 400 khz I2C bus selection.
• Indexed mode files naming convention enhanced :
  • DSKAXXXX become a prefix : You can now add something after the prefix. e.g : DSKA0000_MyDiskName.IMG, DSKA0001_SaveDisk.HFE…
  • The prefix can be changed on the customization page if you don’t like it : https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/
• AUTOBOOT and config files names are now not case sensitive.
• And some more fixes (rotary settings…).

This is only a little part of the changelog. The original one is very long and you can read it here. (instruction manual here)

The HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware Customization page: https://hxc2001.com/custom_fw/

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.1.60.5a (776)

source: hxc2001.com

Hoxs64 scritto da David Horrocks e’ un’ottimo Emulatore di Commodore 64 per Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven (DirectX 9+).

Changelog (v1.0.21.0):

• Fix ANE opcode for Turrican 3
• Added debugger step over JSR and step out with stack instructions functionality.
• Fixed incorrect memory map while using the debugger that allowed the VIC to read from IO space. This caused Emufuxx0r to fail while using the debugger.

Download:

• Hoxs64 32/64 bit v1.0.21.0 (701)

source: hoxs64.net

DirMaster è un programma per la gestione dei files del Commodore 64, del tipo (D64,. D81. T64, ecc) e anche i formati compressi ad esempio: Arc. Sda. lnx, ecc. Il programma DirMaster gira sotto M$ Windows.

Bug risolti in questa versione:

• Workaround for high dpi issues reported by users on Windows 10 (Windows 7/8 still affected, known issue)
• Drag/drop from a disk image to the file system handles “broken” files more gracefully.
• Corrects issue moving .cvt files between disk images.
• Page up/down works in the petscii column on the sector editor.
• Tweaks: hexedit font toggling, BAM view, Explorer preview font size.

Download: DirMaster v3.1.2 (570)

source: style64.org/dirmaster

Questi sono i risultati ufficiali del Demo party Revision 2019 che si e’ concluso il 22 Aprile 2019. Per maggiori informazioni o aggiornamenti visita il sito CSDB nella sezione Revision 2019.

C64 4K Intro:

• 6 – 4k PETSCII Intro by Lethargy

C64 Graphics:

• 6 – Petscii, Dude! by Titus
• 12 – smoking by Titus

Mixed Music:

• 1 – Hard(Re)Start [2sid] by Unreal
• 2 – Deep Kiss (Revision Edit) by LMan
• 4 – Thus Spoke the PC Speaker by Lft
• 7 – Kinky Stinky Pinky by Response
• 11 – Kippers as Slippers by Panda Design
• 12 – Battlestar Watchtowerica by SIDRIP Alliance, Singular
• 13 – Coprolalia by AttentionWhore
• 13 – THCM: Please Release Your Music Tool by PVM

Mixed Demo:

• 1 – Rivalry by Bonzai, Censor Design, Fairlight, Genesis Project, Offence
• 13 – Edison 2019 Invitation by Chemtrailer Boys
• 14 – The 21st by Resource, Singular
• 15 – We Are the Chimpions by Artline Designs, Extend

Mixed Game:

• 5 – 1337 Karate by Abyss Connection

Download: Revision 2019 Party stuff (747)

source: 2019.revision-party.net

E’ stato rilasciato un nuovo aggiornamento firmware per l’ultimate-64 di Gideon.

Differences with previous official release V1.10:

• Based on the Ultimate-II+ firmware Version 3.4c
• NTSC mode has been fixed, from 262 lines to 263 lines per frame.
• SID autoconfig: If there is just one SID, give it the full address range.
• Speaker volume setting added for U64.
• Various fixes in the VIC sprite generator. This fixes many demos.
• Preparations added for Elite version of the U64 board.
• Adjusted analog colors, thanks to Matt Barszcz.
• Fixed sprite collision register timing.
• Fixed line 137 to 000 rollover. This fixes Lunatico three layer scroller
• Added LED controls for the two Case LEDs
• Fixed tape record to tap file.
• Fixed various CIA issues. This fixed the Expert Cart unfreeze problem. Thanks to David Horrocks
• Refined IRQ timing of the 6502 CPU core.
• Added AC generator to support UserPort cable
• Fixed the order of Flash images, to make SS5 NTSC and TAR NTSC work.
• Fixed RES bit in $D016, should be writable. Thanks to David Horrocks.

Changes to the application, 3.4c, compared to previous 3.4:

• Fixing homedirectory function. Added possibility to use wildcards.
• Fixed file extensions. Makes songlengths load again.
• Significant improvements to the Software IEC module.
• Updates to SID player:
  • Implemented pause feature (using space bar)
  • Pause will now also mute 2nd and 3rd SID chip.
  • Fixed SID version check and SID header relocation.
  • Fixed display issue when SID model or clock is unknown.
  • Updated version of player and copyright year.

Download:

• U64/Ultimate-64 v1.18 (577)

source: ultimate64.com