8bcraft RetroStone

August 31st, 2018 No comments
8bcraft RetroStone

The RetroStone is the latest device from developer Pierre-Louis Boyer at 8BCraft, and follows on from the successfully launched Raspiboy via a Kickstarter campaign last year.

The small RetroStone system is powered by a H3 processor which consists of 4 cores at 1.2GHz supported by 1GB of DDR RAM. Retrostone is compatible with Retrorangepi the Retropie distribution specially created for H3 boards. As you may already know Retropie is an awesome emulation station software.

Gallery:

Video:

source: kickstarter.com 8bcraft.com

Exelvision EXL-100

August 31st, 2018 1 comment
Exelvision EXL-100

Many thanks to my friend Ciro of TI-99 Italian User Club for this fantastic gift.

The EXL 100 was done by people who worked at Texas Instruments. It uses a lot of technologies of the TI CC40 (like the basic and the CPU for exemple).

ll the hardware is based on Texas Instruments chips. The TMS 7020 is the CPU, the TMS 7041 manages all I/O, the speech synthesizer (TMS 5220) and the infrared receiver. The keyboard and the joysticks are linked by infrared to the CPU.

Several peripherals were developped for this computer : a dot matrix printer (EXL 80) and a modem (ExelModem). This computer didn’t have a great market success. It was above all used in schools.

Gallery:

source: old-computers.com

Arok 2018: C64 – Official demo party results

August 24th, 2018 No comments

This is the official demo party results from Araok 2018. See also the CSDB AROK 2018 section for more informations.

C64 Music:

  • 1 – Stompbox by Vincenzo
  • 2 – Absolution #13 by NecroPolo
  • 3 – Tigana by Boz
  • 4 – Kiddy by Pudva

Mixed Graphics:

  • 1 – Dragonbird by Hokuto Force, Lethargy
  • 2 – Searching for Green-Truth by Chorus, Resource, Singular
  • 4 – Safe and Sound by EXclusive ON
  • 5 – Ape Rocks In Space by Hokuto Force
  • 6 – Blue Eyes by Atlantis
  • 8 – Bird Goddess by Viza
  • 9 – Lost Empire by Nigaz
  • 10 – Cheers by Replay

Mixed Demo:

  • 3 – Go Gray by Profik
  • 5 – 4th Fundamental State by Hokuto Force
  • 6 – Petscii Guns by Viza

Download: Arok 2018 Full Party Stuff (817)

source: arok.intro.hu/2018

Irradio XTC-506R Repaired again

August 21st, 2018 No comments
Irradio XTC-506R -  Repaired again

Irradio XTC-506R Repaired again.

It seems this small Irradio TV/Monitor always suffers from some problem, last time there were short circuits caused by the pressure of the cathode ray tube on the PCB.

This time some cold joints on the solder pads.it would have been very sad to throw it in the garbage trash.

Gallery of the work done:

Nintendo Virtual Boy Repair

August 21st, 2018 No comments
Nintendo Virtual Boy Repair

Nintendo Virtual Boy Repair.

First of all, i thank Andrea Pierdomenico for this fantastic gift.

Below i explain how i have repaired the Nintendo Virtual Boy which show the classic display malfunction problems (both).

I have used only a pencil eraser and a SMD Rework Station to fix the connections of the ribbon cable to the Display PCB of the Virtual Boy.

The process involves heating the connection of ribbon cable to the Display and using a pencil eraser to push segments of the ribbon cable to the PCB.

I configured the hot air station to 145 Degrees and 55 of Air Pressure and i made 3 fast transition without ever stopping at a specific point, pressing between one pass and another with the pencil eraser.

It Works!

Gallery of the work done:

Atari 1020 Color Printer

August 12th, 2018 No comments
Atari 1020 Color Printer

Thanks to my friends Charlie and Gerben for this fantastic gift which adds another piece to my Atari Collection that now begins to become respectable.

UAV Video Upgrade for Atari Computers & Consoles

August 12th, 2018 No comments
UAV (Ultimate Atari Video) Video Upgrade for Atari Computers & Consoles

UAV (Ultimate Atari Video) Video Upgrade for Atari Computers & Consoles.

This circuit improves the signal video output and allow to use both output (SVIDEO and COMPOSITE). The circuit is compatible with all Atari 2600, 5200, 7800 consoles and all Atari Home Computers 400, 800, 1200 …

I thank my friend Charlie for giving me this circuit that i have immediately installed in my Atari 2600 Jr which i use with the Harmony SD Cartridge.

NOTE:

Don’t use the socket in place of the IC 4050 as seen in the photo. The external case of the Atari 2600Jr console is too thin and cannot be closed anymore.

Gallery of the work done:

source: atariage.com

Mean Well T-60B Power Supply for Amiga

August 12th, 2018 No comments
Mean Well T-60B PowerSupply for Amiga

Mean Well T-60B switching power supply put in a box to be used for Amiga computers.

This is a nice summer job for my friend Andry.

Gallery of the work done:

Download: Mean Well T-60B datasheet (884)

Donation of Atari things from a friend

August 12th, 2018 No comments
Many Thanks Alessandro

A couple of weeks ago had written a post on a socialSocks that i was looking for a button for my 800XL that i had repaired.

Today the missing key came to me as a gift :D

The lot that includes the missing key is the following:

  • 1 x Atari 800XL (Boxed)
  • 1 x Atari 1050 Dual Densisty Disk Drive (Italian box totally different from my box)
  • 1 x Atari XC11 (Boxed)
  • 1 x Atari 800XL Loose

I thank so much Alessandro Polito. Thanks my friend.

Categories: Donations, News & Rumors, Today

Datastorm 2018: C64 – Official demo party results

August 12th, 2018 No comments

This is the official demo party results from Datastorm 2018. See also the CSDB DATASTORM 2018 section for more informations.

C64 Demo:

  • 1 – Fopcycle by Fairlight, Offence, Prosonix
  • 2 – @ by Atlantis
  • 3 – Oldskool Heroes by Nah-Kolor

C64 Music:

  • 1 – Semestertechno by Qdor/Stinsen
  • 2 – Disco-Data by Magnar Harestad
  • 3 – Newsoft II by Zabutom
  • 4 – Stratos by X-jammer
  • 5 – 120 Seconds of Untz by V0yager/Magic

C64 Graphics:

  • 1 – DS Compofiller 60% by Jok
  • 2 – FompoCiller by grip
  • 3 – Best Friends by Kaktus/Mahoney

Productions released outside compos:

  • Phantom of the Blasteroids by Genesis Project (Game)

Download: Datastorm 2018 Full Party Stuff (867)

source: datastorm.party

Another Gotek (HXC) with some Enhancements *updated*

August 5th, 2018 No comments
Another Gotek (HXC) with some Enhancements

Another Gotek (HXC) with some Enhancements.

Enhancements:

  • OLED Display
  • Piezo Buzzer
  • Push Button for select
  • Rotary Encoder

Gallery:

Video:

Credits for the best firmware Jean-françois Del Nero.

ZOE rev 2.0 Inty (Mattel Intellivision) RGB Interface for sale now!

July 29th, 2018 7 comments

Available for sale the ZOE RGB rev 2.0 interface for Mattel Intellivision.

The Zoe interface lets you connect the PAL Mattel Intellivision console to a TV/monitor through the RGB signal of a SCART connector, dramatically increasing the quality of the video signal and bringing it to the highest possible quality: the original output is a modest RF/Antenna signal.

The interface is connected in place of the National LM1886 IC (TV Video Matrix DAC) to take the RGB and Sync signals and convert them for the SCART output.

Below some examples of video quality using a Sony PVM9041QM CRT Monitor and a Sony KD-49XD8305

The ZOE rev 2.0 interface is tested individually piece by piece before shipment.

The assembled kit is available and you can buy it now from ebay or privately (An installation service on the console will be available for less experienced users)The kit includes:

  • 1 x ZOE rev 2.0 pcb with 3 bioadhesive supports.
  • 1 x Dupont connector to the 8-pin DIN female panel socket (30cm long)
  • 1 x Flat cable to connect the ZOE RGB to the socket of the LM1886  (19cm long)
  • 1 x SCART Cable to 8-pin DIN male (2mt long)
  • 1 x Audio cable with dupont connector from one end and to solder on the other side (30cm long)
  • 1 x Precision IC Socket to replace the LM1886.
  • 2 x Screws to fix the 8-pin DIN female.

Video test (Italian Only):

The video was made by a friend Vincenzo Sinceri.

If someone wants to remake the din-scart cable (example: more length), this is the pinout:

Download: Zoe RGB rev 2.0 Interface Installation Manual (English/Italian) (1113)

If you have problems to viewing in the correct way the manual in PDF format click here for the instruction how to configure the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Philips VG-8235 (MSX2) Upgrading & Restoration

July 29th, 2018 2 comments
Philips VG-8235 (MSX2) Upgrading & Fixing

This poor computer was given to me in year 2015 but unfortunately it arrived at destination destroyed.

In these days i have decided to fix it and make some upgrades to make it more usable.

Upgrading & Restoration:

  • General cleaning of external case and motherboards.
  • Fixed the ventilation grid as the best i could do.
  • Glued the pins where the screws lock the keyboard.
  • Cleaning and Belt replacement of the 360k Floppy Drive.
  • Replaced MASKROM MSX VG-8235 (U7) with an EPROM 27C512 with the firmware of the MSX VG-8245 to use 720k floppy disk on the internal drive.
  • Replaced the original Floppy Drive with the GOTEK (HXC).
  • Removed the battery for the system clock.
  • Bypassed the impedance L1 on the power supply stage (solves video noise if the original Floppy Drive is not used)
  • Rerouted Floppy Drive cable to make it compatible with a standard Floppy Drives.
  • Fix for the missing signals of the Internal Floppy Drive but present on the external Floppy Drive (you need to solder 2 wires)

Gallery of the work done:

Download: MSX 8245 50hz Rom [27512] (882)

Updating ROM of the MSX FDD Interface to support DD (720KB)

July 25th, 2018 No comments
Updating ROM of the MSX FDD Interface to support DD (720KB)

Playing with the MSX and HXC with DSK support, meanwhile updating the ROM of the FDD Interface to support double sided disk (720KB).

Gallery:

Download: MSX FDD Interface ROM (360k/720k) (626)

Vampire GOLD2.10 Core Released for V600 v2(.1) & V500 v2(+)

July 23rd, 2018 No comments

Vampire GOLD2.10 Core Released for V600 v2 (.1) & V500 v2(+) and new Saga Driver v1.4.

Vampire GOLD2.10 Changelog:

  • Added 4 different IDE speeds (V500)
  • Fixed SBCD instruction
  • Fixed ChipRAM detection
  • Improved CIA timings (V600)

SAGA Driver v1.4 Changelog:

  • Updated VControl to 1.6
  • Updated VampireSN for Vampire V4
  • Updated SDNet to 1.92
  • Updated V2ExpEth to 1.92

Download: Vampire Core & Saga Driver (1202)

source: apollo-accelerators.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today