Grundy Newbrain PSU Repair & Cleaning Cables

July 26th, 2019 No comments
Grundy Newbrain PSU Repair & Cleaning Cables

I have removed the blown filter capacitor of both PSU and cleaned the dirty cables.

Gallery:

U64 Streamer v1.2

July 22nd, 2019 No comments

What can I do with this?

With the new Ultimate 64 firmware (>=1.1c) there is an option to receive video frames & audio over a network connection at 50fps.

You can use this tool to capture those frames into an image, audio or video file.

Changelog v1.1a (21/07/2019):

  • Added audio capture

Download: U64 Streamer v1.2 (704)

source: u64streamer

DirMaster v3.1.3 / Style

July 19th, 2019 No comments

DirMaster is a Windows-based GUI application designed to help Commodore enthusiasts explore and manage their disk image collections.

DirMaster supports common (and uncommon) emulator disk image formats (such as .d64, .d81, .d2m, etc), almost every native Commodore archival format (such as .arc, .sda, .lnx, etc), and many native graphic formats (such as koala, doodle, amica, etc).

DirMaster was designed to give users a perfect blend of familiar appearance (e.g. natural looking disk image contents using the PETSCII character set) and modern GUI functionality (e.g. drag and drop, opening multiple disk images at once). The first version of DirMaster was released in 2006

Issues reported by users that were resolved in v3.1.3:

  • Windows XP compatibility restored in 3.1.3 [0182] (Luca/FIRE + others)
  • Extending a d64 from 35 to 40 tracks, track 35 is destroyed [0172] (stephan-andres)
  • cvt file copy would result in failure to validate the disk in GEOS [0178] (scott.hutter)

Thanks to all who made an effort to submit bug reports. If you sent a bug report and don’t see it addressed here, don’t worry, it’s in the queue.

Other issues resolved in v3.1.3:

  • “Mark disk for GEOS” incorrectly writes the border sector [0181]
  • New d64 images are more accurately matching the 1541 formatted content (open1,8,15,”n0:” style) [0179]
  • BAM view could cause a crash when viewing truncated disk images, this should be less likely now [0168]
  • An error message would sometimes be shown when quitting DirMaster after launching a disk image in an emulator [0159]

Belated thanks to Bacchus/FLT who sent most of the issues that were addressed in 3.1.2.

Download: DirMaster v3.1.3 (654)

source: style64.org/dirmaster

C64 Big Game Pack: Dandy +7D / Ice Cold Beer / Rogue Trooper +3DG

July 18th, 2019 No comments

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:

  • Stercore XD +3D
  • Stercore XD +2
  • Stercore XD
  • Stercore XD +
  • For Speed We Need V2 +2
  • Race Through Space +2HDF
  • Agent USA +4DG
  • Adventure +1D
  • Sidelines V1.1
  • Haunted House +2D
  • Commodore Kung Fu
  • Neutralizor +3DG
  • Sidelines V1.1 +2
  • Pocket Rockets +H
  • Minimike Preview 3 +
  • Looter Preview +
  • Diamond Bucket +2
  • Hexenküche +
  • Valentino +3DMI
  • Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? +1D
  • Forgotten Worlds +13DI
  • MW Ultra Framework Example Preview +2
  • Blastopia DX
  • RetroGameDev Space Shooter Preview 2 +2
  • Blastopia DX +6HD
  • Exodus +6DH
  • RetroGameDev Space Shooter Preview 2 +3H
  • Neutron V1.3 +2D
  • Neutron V1.3 +6HD
  • Take Down +2DF
  • Pocket Dungeon +
  • Dice Skater +2D
  • Pocket Dungeon V1.1 +
  • Vegetables V2.0 +1D
  • Crystal Caverns
  • Dice Skater [16kb cartridge]
  • Dice Skater +2D
  • Irmen’s Teh Triz
  • Ninja Invasion Simulator Preview 2 +
  • Crystal Caverns +2
  • Cruiser-X 79 Preview
  • Cruiser-X 79 Preview +2
  • The Royal Hunt +1D
  • Space Orbs Preview +D
  • Dice Skater +3HD
  • Ice Cold Beer
  • Death Weapon
  • Swarm 16k
  • Death Weapon +2D
  • Out of INK +
  • Death Weapon +
  • Death Weapon +1D
  • Super Goatron +2
  • Ice Cold Beer +1HD
  • Terminal Fighter Preview +
  • Ice Cold Beer +1D
  • Relentless 64 [16kb cartridge]
  • Death Weapon +3HD
  • Relentless 64 +
  • Rogue Trooper +3DG
  • Swarm 16k +D
  • Swarm 16k V1.0.2
  • Swarm 16k V1.0.2 +D
  • Out of INK +D
  • Mashed Turtles 64 V2 +F
  • The Search for the Nether Regions +DPS
  • Space Orbs Preview 2 &D
  • Space Orbs Preview 2 +D
  • The Rocky Horror Show +7SDF [us version]
  • Mike the Cave-Man +5T
  • Soccer War +2F [seuck]
  • Crystal Caverns +1D
  • Hanoi Tower +DF
  • Grubs Preview
  • Relentless 64 +3H
  • Dandy +7D
  • Minor Jumper [german]

Download: All Games in One Archive (5972)

source: csdb.dk

Some retro-things received from my friend Gerben

July 17th, 2019 No comments
Some retro-things received from my friend Gerben.

Some retro-things received from my friend Gerben.

  • 2 x Commodore 64 Manual
  • 1 x Commodore 64 Programmer’s Reference Guide
  • 1 x Sony HITBIT MSX-Basic Manual
  • 1 x Sony HITBIT MSX-Disk Basic Manual
  • 1 x Sony HITBIT Manual
  • 1 x Jack Nicklaus Accolade game for Macintosh
  • 1 x Commodore 64 Tune-up Book
  • 1 x Getting More from your Commodore 64 Book
  • 1 x Commodore VIC-1541 Manual
  • 2 x Commodore Mouse 1351 Manual
  • 3 x Spare Manuals of Coleco Vision Cartridge (Mouse Trap / Turbo / Time Pilot)
  • 1 x 16k Memory Module for ATARI 800 (Boxed)
  • 1 x Radio Shack TRS-80 Ribbon Daisy Wheel Printer II (Boxed)
  • 1 x Donkey Kong Junior Coleco Vision Cartridge (Boxed)
  • 1 x Narco Police C64 & C64GS Game Cartridge
  • 1 x Simons’ Basic C64 Cartridge
  • 1 x Power Cartridge for Commodore 64
  • 1 x 16K Expansion Memory for Commodore VIC-20 (RED CASE)
  • 1 x Homemade Joystick Interface for ZX-80/81
  • 1 x Commodore 64 RS-232 Interface
  • 1 x Multi Cartridge for VIC-20
  • 1 x Protek Joystick Interface
  • 1 x Philips MSX Mouse
  • 1 x S.C.N. Modem for Commodore 64
  • 1 x Modem House Spectrum VTX 711 for ZX Sepctrum (Boxed)
  • 1 x Intel 8087
  • 9 x IBM 2164-20 (RAM)
  • 1 x Sony HITBIT HB-75P (MSX)
  • 1 x Philips 8245 (MSX2)
  • 1 x Frankenstein ZX-81 (Homemade wood case for ZX-81 with a ACORN Electron Keyboard) + Expansion Memory Inside. The worst thing i’ve ever seen.

Some RS-232 Gender Changer, Null Modem, RS-232 Tester and unknown cables.

The Frankenstein ZX-81 it works! the keyboard not but is not a problem of the keyboard but of the missing connections of the matrix, maybe an unfinished project ?

Gallery:

U64 Streamer v1.1a

July 8th, 2019 No comments

What can I do with this?

With the new Ultimate 64 firmware (>=1.1c) there is an option to receive video frames & audio over a network connection at 50fps.

You can use this tool to capture those frames into an image or video file.

Changelog v1.1a (07/07/2019):

  • Fixed settings window issue’s
  • Check on valid IP address, and issue with remote start checks.
  • GUI changes.
  • Added visuals to start stream and video recorder button.
  • Fixed window position for about and settings window.
  • Added button icons.
  • Stream statistics.
  • Optimized code.

Download: U64 Streamer v1.1a (671)

source: u64streamer

RGCD C64 16KB Cartridge Game Competition 2019

July 4th, 2019 No comments

Results and Downloads of the RGCD C64 16KB Cartridge Game Development Competition started on December 22nd 2018 and ended a few days ago, on July 1st 2019.

Results:

  • Ice Cold Beer by Megastyle
  • Dice Skater [16kb cartridge] by Geir Straume
  • Doc Cosmos by Simon Jameson        
  • Blastopia DX by The New Dimension
  • Death Weapon by C64CD
  • Swarm 16k by Commocore
  • Lala Prologue [16kb cartridge] by Digital Monastery, Hokuto Force
  • Let’s Invade 2 by The New Dimension
  • Vegetables V2.0 by Mike Richmond
  • Pocket Dungeon by Endurion
  • Super Goatron by Misfit
  • Out of INK by Hokuto Force
  • Robots Rumble [16kb cartridge] by Digital Monastery, Hokuto Force
  • Stercore XD by C64CD
  • Tenebra Macabre V1.1 [16kb cartridge] by Digital Monastery, Hokuto Force
  • Relentless 64 by Bitplane Technomantes

Download: RGCD C64 16KB Cartridge Game Competition 2019 (805)

source: csdb.dk

Categories: C128/128D/128DCR, C64/SX64, DTV

U64 Streamer v1.1

July 2nd, 2019 No comments

What can I do with this?

With the new Ultimate 64 firmware (>=1.1c) there is an option to receive video frames & audio over a network connection at 50fps.

You can use this tool to capture those frames into an image or video file.

Changelog v1.1 (02/07/2019):

  • First official release.
  • Various fixes, bug reports i received from users.
  • Video capture: release of file handle.
  • Focus / minimize window / restore window problems.
  • Optimized stream start/stop functions.
  • Embeded menu: removed.
  • Floating menu, so menu is always visible but not in video output window.
  • Video capture window background set to black, there was a small grey line visible (not nice in OBS).
  • Option to start U64 streams remotely.

Download: U64 Streamer v1.1 (585)

source: u64streamer

High Voltage SID Collection Update #71

July 1st, 2019 No comments

The High Voltage SID Collection (HVSC) is a freeware hobby project which organises Commodore 64 music (also known as SID music) into an archive for both musicians and fans alike.

The work on the collection is done completely in the Team and contributors’ spare time and is proudly one of the largest and most accurate computer music collections known.

This update features (all approximates):

  • 464 new SIDs
  • 20 fixed/better rips
  • 1 repeats/bad rips eliminated
  • 49 SID credit fixes
  • 94 SID model/clock infos
  • 4 tunes from /DEMOS/UNKNOWN/ identified
  • 2 tunes from /GAMES/ identified
  • 17 tunes moved out of /DEMOS/ to their composers’ directories
  • 6 tunes moved out of /GAMES/ to their composers’ directories

Download:

source: www.hvsc.c64.org

Gubbdata 2019 – C64 Party results

June 30th, 2019 No comments

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

C64 Demo:

  • 1 – The Elder Scrollers by Booze Design
  • 2 – The Dive by Genesis Project
  • 3 – Skåneland 2 by Fairlight
  • 4 – Thera by Atlantis
  • 5 – Innervasion by Genesis Project, Offence, Panoramic Designs
  • 6 – 5 of 5 Slider by Offence, Panoramic Designs, Prosonix
  • 7 – Gumbo by Camelot
  • 8 – Dark Times by Software of Sweden
  • 9 – Tech-Tech Magic by Censor Design
  • 10 – Fat Albert by Triad
  • 11 – Bender by Offence
  • 12 – Pretzeled by The Solution
  • 13 – Cash Heart GP by Triad
  • 14 – Esløw Nästa by Esl0w

C64 Music:

  • 1 – Aslång på Skansen by Fegolhuzz
  • 2 – Dimelo by Zardax
  • 3 – So Fucking Bitter and Oldschool by Mr.Death/AnaNg
  • 4 – Azzid Jazz by RaveGuru
  • 5 – Floppy in Action by TDM
  • 6 – Entry Denied by Magnar Harestad
  • 7 – Eurogubbe 2019 by Flex
  • 8 – Accelerated by psych858o
  • 9 – Roady by Apollyon
  • 10 – GubbWubb by Spider Jerusalem
  • 11 – Ikebukuro by Mibri
  • 12 – Jack Door by DAM
  • 13 – Whisteling Wolk by Wolk
  • 14 – Vinegar by Barik
  • 15 – Sun of Japan vby Ioviani
  • 16 – Spacestation by Mythus
  • 17 – Wild West Rider by Pal
  • 18 – Gubbdataintrång by Zzap69
  • 19 – Kaosmanicken by Båtsman
  • 20 – Datatanten Theme by AnaNg
  • 21 – Laholms baksida by E-Grass

C64 Graphics:

  • 1 – Hola! by The Sarge
  • 2 – The Mighty Octopussy Hunter by Facet
  • 3 – Purgatory by Razorback
  • 4 – Hard2B by Raphis
  • 5 – Mind The Power by Apollyon
  • 6 – Vortex by Fabs
  • 7 – Paradroid by Arcadestation
  • 8 – King Dogg by Alta
  • 9 – Fall of the Desert by Leon
  • 10 – Gubba Gubba Hey by Lobo
  • 11 – Vakttorn – Med plutonium tvingar vi dansken på knä by Danskjävel
  • 12 – Psychotropical Eden by RailSlave
  • 13 – Spacestation gfx by Mythus
  • 14 – Fager by luNix
  • 15 – Girl in Darkness by Splash

Wild Demo:

  • 1 – Gubb Wish VI, Return of the Senior Citizen by Fairlight
  • 2 – The Weapon by Fairlight
  • 3 – Rasters of the Universe by Fossil
  • 4 – Blade Runner by Pretzel Logic
  • 5 – Miami Advice by Artline Designs
  • 6 – HazlHof by Alta
  • 8 – Maniac Mansion by Fantastic 4 Cracking Group

Mixed:

  • 1 – Camel Ohio [2sid] by Encore (Music)

Mixed Graphics:

  • 1 – Punished by Being Toppled from the Top by Mayday!
  • 2 – Armakuni Returns by Genesis Project
  • 3 – On a Bed of Silicon by Lft
  • 4 – Lethal Eve by 8R0TK4$T3N
  • 5 – Grumpy by Latex
  • 6 – Uriel by Aeleus
  • 7 – Gubbub by Hardcore Mofokkahz
  • 8 – Øresundståg by Jucke
  • 9 – Creatures by Hardcore Mofokkahz
  • 10 – 1984-2019 by Logiker
  • 11 – Hello I Love You by Triad
  • 12 – Pigselated by Beardswitcher
  • 13 – Rosa Ögat by Pravda
  • 14 – How mås it? by Beardswitcher
  • 15 – Kyckling by Lola
  • 16 – Kool by Beardswitcher

Mixed Music:

  • 1 – 80′s Ad by Fairlight
  • 2 – Gubbrock is Law! by Latex
  • 3 – Free Fallin’ by Censor Design
  • 4 – Sweet Dreams by Båtsman
  • 5 – Stockholmsserenad [2sid] by Zeta
  • 6 – Rytmen av ett regn by Zapac

Mixed Demo:

  • 1 – Samantha Fox Strip Poker Pro by Triad

Productions released outside compos:

  • Datastorm 2019 Invite by Genesis Project (Invitation)
  • Irmen’s Teh Triz by Genesis Project (Crack)
  • Miami Advice by Artline Designs (Graphics)
  • NGC 1277 100% by Samar Productions (Demo)
  • Ninja Invasion Simulator Preview 2 + by Genesis Project (Crack)
  • Phreeeeeeedh by Hardcore Mofokkahz (Intro)
  • Relentless 64 promo by Bitplane Technomantes (Intro)
  • Space Orbs Preview &D by Genesis Project (Crack)
  • Terminal Fighter Preview + by Triad (Crack)

Download: Gubbdata 2019 Full Party stuff (783)

source: gubbdata.se

Atari 2600 JR MOD (its a long story :O)

June 26th, 2019 No comments
Atari 2600 JR (its a long story)

Yes, it’s a long story, because i have modded this Atari 2600 JR many times.

The first time have made a simple composite video mod without adding any external components, so i have made the composite mod with 1 transistor and a couple of resistors, the last composite mod is the UAV (Ultimate Atari Video) made from a dude of AtariAge that was given to me by my friend Charlie and today i have put 3 x RCA for video/audio output in place of a cable passed through the RF hole.

I used the same hole as the RF output for the VIDEO output and soldered a RCA connector in the same pcb pad of the RF RCA connector, i have used the same pcb track that was needed for the RF signal for the Composite signal, i have also removed a resistor (R19) to isolate the pcb track.

Gallery:

Ultimate64/U64 Speaker with a little improvement.

June 23rd, 2019 1 comment
U64 Speaker with a little improvement.

Ultimate64/U64 Speaker with a little improvement.

I didn’t really like to see the U64 Speaker which due to the small connector and weight he tended to tilt and was not aligned with the motherboard.

I solved the problem quite elegantly by inserting a small thickness of plastic glued with a drop of Loctite on the botton side of the U64 Speaker motherboard.

Gallery:

Brionvega Radio TS 502 battery door fixed

June 23rd, 2019 1 comment
Brionvega TS 502 battery door fixed

The problem of this radio of the late 60s was due to the lack of foam layer, certainly removed by someone.

The thin layer of foam inside the battery holder is needed to lock the batteries in their position, missing this thin layer of foam the radio turns off if it is bumped or moved.

Gallery:

source: museoscienza.org

Atari 2600 PAL Composite Video Mod for my friend Charlie.

June 23rd, 2019 4 comments
Atari 2600 PAL Composite Video Mod

Atari 2600 (4-switch units) PAL Composite Video Mod for my friend Charlie.

Gallery:

USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) Firmware v3.3.1.2a (OSD Support!!)

June 23rd, 2019 No comments

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….

USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v3.1.60.5a -> v3.3.1.2a cumulative changelog:

  • Fix multi-screens support (OSD + 7 segments screens)
  • New Major feature !!! : On screen display support (OSD overlay)
  • The HxC firmware for Gotek now support the On Screen Display !
  • You can now select images and see the drive status on the machine’s screen without any additional software or LCD/OLED !
  • No need to make holes in the machine case anymore ;).
  • Picture: https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/HxCGotek_OSDAmiga1.jpg
  • You only need 2 wires and a resistor to connect the Gotek to the machine’s video signals :
  • One wire is used for the CSYNC video signal (Composite Sync), the other wire for the red, green (prefered) or blue signal.
  • One resistor must be put in serie on the color signal between the Gotek and the machine.
  • You can use a value between 220 and 470 ohms for this resistor. A potentiometer can be also used to tune the OSD brightness/contrast.
  • This was currently tested on Amiga 500, Atari STE and Amstrad CPC 6128 machines, but should work with any machines having a composite sync signal.
  • HxC Firmware for Gotek OSD wiring:
  • Gotek wiring:
  • Amiga 500:
  • Amstrad CPC6128:
  • Atari STE:
  • Power supply voltage measurement:
    • You can now see/read the power supply voltage incoming to the floppy emulator.
    • This feature is quite useful to check the machine power supply state/working condition.
    • If you want to use this feature you must add this voltage divider to measure
    • the power supply on the JC jumper input :
    • VSS/GND|—| 1Ko Resistor |–(JC pin)–| 4.7Ko Resistor |—< 5V Power Supply input.
    • ( See https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_drive_emulator/HxCGotek_voltage_system_monitor.jpg )
    • Notes:
    • Use +/-1% Resistors if possible.
    • This voltage divider support up to 18V.
    • Use the embedded menu to access the system monitor :
    • Press both buttons to enter the menu. Choose “System Monitor” or “E  ” if you have the original 7 segments display.
    • “Temperature” menu renamed “System Monitor”.
  • On-die STM32 temperature sensor support : You can get the current CPU core temperature from the embedded menu :
  • press both buttons to enter the menu. Choose “temperature” or “E  ” if you have the original 7 segments display.
  • Blackberry trackball : Sensitivity reduced/better usability.
  • External/Additional select button support :  Behavioral fix -> remove glitch-like effect when selecting images.
  • Fix the short and long read emulation pipeline buffer size options (custom fw web page).
  • HFEv3 : Weakbits support added.
  • Fix the files extensions display option : you can now also hide the file name extensions in selector/indexed mode.
  • New major feature ! : Auto mount USB stick folder to a FAT/DOS compatible virtual floppy !
  • This feature allows you to directly put your files in a stick’s folder and mount this folder as a FAT/DOS floppy disk !
  • You can use it with any machine compatible with the FAT file system (PC, Atari ST, lots of keyboards/samplers and CNC machines…).
  • To use this feature, copy an empty/preformatted DOS IMG image to the stick path “/mount/emptyfat.img”
  • This image can be a 720KB or 1.44MB blank DOS image or any other FAT compatible blank image.
  • You can use the HxC Floppy Emulator software Disk Browser to create it or take the ones present in the firmware archive.
  • Once you select a “mount source” folder on the emulator, the emptyfat.img file is duplicated to a “MOUNTED.IMG” file.
  • Then all files/subfolders present into the selected folder are added into this duplicated image.
  • (Note : the emptyfat.img remains untouched).
  • Your “mount sources” / root folders should have the extension “.mnt” to be mounted by the emulator :
  • example : “myvirtualdisk.mnt”
  • This new feature can be used with the “normal”/direct browsing (oled/lcd screen usage) and indexed modes.
  • For the indexed mode just put the DSKAXXXX prefix in the mount point folder name.
  • example : “DSKA0000_MyMidiFiles.mnt”
  • Please note that the image duplication and files copy operations can take some seconds.
  • I will try to optimize/speedup the mount operations in the next releases.
  • Let me know if you have any problems or any suggestions/questions/comments on the HxC forum or by email.
  • FAT 12/16/32 layer write support enhanced to create entries (files & folders) and allocate clusters.

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 v3.3.1.2a (816)

source: hxc2001.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today