A new version of the firmware for the interface Ultimate II+ is released. This version runs ONLY on the Ultimate II+ cartridge.

Release notes Ultimate-II+ v3.1 rev 474:

• USB fixes:
  • support for sticks that do not reliably reply to the ‘inquiry’ command
  • Byte alignment issue fixed when writing. This caused corrupted G64s to be written sometimes
  • Support for composite devices added
  • Added support for USB keyboards, to navigate the Ultimate browser menu

• Incorporated patches from Markus & Henning, including, but not limited to:
  • Audio squeal fix, speaker volume addition
  • Ultimate DOS V1.1 with added commands
  • Added Home Directory support
  • Added support for GeoRAM

• IEC fixes:
  • IEC now operates properly on the bus, when it is alone (disabled 1541 drives)
  • IEC filename fixes; saving a file to IEC adds the right extension and also removes the extension when loading directory
  • IEC should now work with JiffyDOS  (not yet supporting the JiffyDOS protocol)

• UltiCopy is working again!
• Small fix in TCP support (TCP hangup on retransmission)
• Other small fixes:
  • Save disk twice bug fixed
  • Fixed load errors on tape adapter cable with some USB 3.0 cables
  • Keyboard “racekeys” fixed
  • Reduced Link Up time for the Ethernet port
  • Ultimax mode ROMs now allow video data in ROM

How to update?

• Browse to the U2P firmware file on the USB storage and run it from the context menu.

Download: Ultimate-II+ Firmware v3.1 rev 474 (1509)

source: facebook.com 1541ultimate.net

CBM prg Studio Version 3.9.0 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

• Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
• Tabbed MDI.
• Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

New features in v3.10.0:

• Assembler:
  • Increased sprite include limit to 256.
  • ‘Memory overwrite’ error is now a warning.
  • Use CTRL+[ and CTRL+] to go to previous/next label definition.

• Sprite Editor:
  • Added new functionality to scratchpad.
  • Functions can act over a range.

• Character Editor:
  • Rotate character 90 degrees.

• General:
  • Option to load last edited project automatically.

Bugs Fixed:

• General:
  • Using space(s) with screen code builder.
  • Wrong menu after creating a project.
  • Occasionally throws an exception when closing and opening the project explorer, project information and output windows.
  • ‘User’ palette settings not saved/used.
  • ‘User’ tools menu not created properly.
  • Generate and launch could use wrong filename.
  • VIC 20 memory configuration not set properly in emulator.
  • Tabs with different zoom levels would crash when changing tabs.

• Assembler:
  • Uppercase PETSCII chars not generated properly.
  • IncBin wrongly reporting file too large.
  • Floating point value 0.0 not generated correctly.

• BASIC:
  • Renumber not working for certain uppercase keywords.
  • Character code multiplier limited to 255.
  • Compress should ignore comment lines.

• SID Tool:
  • Incorrectly reporting that the tool was still open when quitting CBM prg Studio.

See the help for a complete list of new features and fixed bugs.

Note In this version, each target machine can have its own default project directory. If you are upgrading from a previous version (before version 2.5.1) of CBM prg Studio you may be asked to set up your project directories again. Your current projects will not be affected.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.10.0 (1100)

source: ajordison.co.uk

Hoxs64 written by David Horrocks is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven (DirectX 9+)

The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.

Changelog:

• Fixed memory leak when changing the floppy disk image.
• The joystick game controler will now respond to all POV/hat switches.

Download:

• Hoxs64 32/64 bit v1.0.9.2 (940)

source: hoxs64.net

Project Ymer is a chip tracker and YM file player, programmed by Peter Jørgensen (Denmark), 1999-2017.

General:

• Choose between different sound card in you computer. (up to 8)
• Select playback rate from 44100 – 192000 Hz
• Up to 8 times oversampling
• Export to wav
• Export rate up to 96000 Hz with 2 times oversampling

Tracker:

• Score-based layout (no-patterns)
• Graphical instrument edit
• Volume envelope
• Amplitude modulation
• Hardware Buzzer
• Pw-Pwm
• Synthwave
• Sound resolution up to 300 Hz
• Noise bend
• Advance tone bend
• Buzzer Vibrato
• Buzzer portamento
• Unified frequent list
• Turn Tone/Wave on-off in vibrato, bend and arpeggio.
• Vibrato Depth
• Invert Vibrato for synth wave

New Function In the 2017 version:

• Export Pure YM Tracker score to Ymt (Only Standard Instrument and Buzzer Sound)
• Double Tempo resolutions
• Expand Score
• Insert block/Mark, have been change to Over write and Paste Block/Mark

New Function in Beta version 14.0:

• Mixer controll
• Stereo
• Simple reverb
• Startup directory

Download: Ym2149 2017 Beta Version (1285)

source: bitmania.de

This is the official demo party results from BCC #11. See also the CSDB BCC #11 section for more informations and download.

Mixed Other Systems:

• #1 Slipstream / Mad / Bauknecht (C16 Game) 194
• #2 Angracer 128 / Tale-X (C128 Game) 135
• #3 Basic 2.0 / TheIncredibleBauchspeck / Saufbox (C128) 71

Mixed C64:

• #1 Slipstream / Mad / Bauknecht (C64) (L) (Game) 192
• #2 Super Marioahner Sisters / nomistake / Atwood Studios (extra disk) (Game) 165
• #3 Fruchtbärchen by Zed Yago / K2 (SCPU) 143
• #4 Civilzation 8 bit Music / Protovision (Music Collection) 99

C64 Graphics:

• #1 Secret of the Forbidden City / Luisa & Oni /Poo-Brain & Rabenauge 184
• #2 Love in Time of Laser Raptors / AWSM / Mayday! (L) 161
• #3 Compufreak / Salvo Bee / Hokuto force) (Italy) ® 140
• #4 Eternal Love / Domspitze / Hokuto Force (multicolor) 132

C64 MUSIC:

• #1 The Treasure is All Mine / c0zmo / Bliss 168
• #2 Silver Surfer / GI-Joe / Mayday! 167
• #3 Creation Reconciled / Spider-Jerusalem / Mayday! 166
• #4 Der Computer Nr. 64 / Uctumi / Hokuto Force 165
• #5 Partly Pieces / Röly / Mayday! 162
• #6 Do Ya Wanna Funk / YSYRY / PVM 149
• #7 Sonki3000 / Sonki / BCC 148
• #8 Ocean Ninja / Sidman / Hokuto Force 147
• #9 Spraybeatz / Celtic Design 132
• #10 No Medal / G-Fellow / Code7 113

C64 One filed Demo:

• #1 Nomad by Rabenauge & Poo-Brain (One-file Demo) 146
• #2 Empire / Hokuto Force (Intro) 127
• #3 Monitori Te Salutant / Brainstorm (C64 BASIC Demo) 96

C64 Trackmo:

• #1 Trafolta / Mayday! (L) 206
• #2 Vega / Delysid (L) 204
• #3 Lollipop / Delysid (L/R) 170

Download: BCC #11 Full Party Stuff (1013)

source: csdb.dk

Thanks to my friend Andry for the donation of Atari Software.

Titles:

• Ghostbusters (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Universal Hero (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Jeff Minter revenge II (Mastertronic) – Tape
• SideWinder II (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Despatch Rider (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Milk Race (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Henry’s House (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Attack of the Mutant Camels (Mastertronic) – Tape
• 180 (Mastertronic) – Tape
• Suicide Mission (Arcadia) – Tape
• Star Riders (Atari) – Tape
• James Bond 007 The Living Daylights (Zeppelin Games) – Tape
• Chuckie Egg (ANF) – Tape
• Cavern Commander (Scorpio Games World) – Tape
• Side Winder (Zeppelin Games) – Tape
• Qyx (Thermonuclear Soft) – Tape
• Flip & Flop (Thermonuclear Soft) – Tape
• The Tail of Beta Lyrae (DataByte) – Tape
• Elektra Glide (Laser Load) – Tape
• Desmond’s Dungeon Find the key to riches (Creative Sparks) – Tape
• Voodoo Castle (Adventure International) – Tape
• Joy Pong (Lindasoft) – Disk
• JumpMania (Lindasoft) – Disk
• Trans Robots sul pianeta del teschio (Lindasoft) – Disk

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k (Toastrack) Repair

Defect:

• Garbage screen on bootup.

Repair:

• Replaced 7404 (74LS04)

Note:

• Missing one HEX Inverter between Pin 11 and 10.

Gallery of the repair:

Outrun New Year Music Demo for the Atari ST by Peter Jørgensen

The music has been converted by Peter Jørgensen aka. fedepede04 aka bionic nerd, using a special version of Project Ymer, that can exported its tracker scores to YMT files.

It’s a Pure YM2149 Sound, no Samples, no Sid, Synth Wave, or Phaser sounds.

Download: Outrun New Year Music Demo (982)

source: bitmania.de

I have exhumed my old Macbook Core 2 Duo 13″ (late 2007) to install a Linux OS (Linux Mint) but before doing this work i wanted to give a nice internal cleaning and replacing the thermal paste of the cpu.

Gallery:

Hoxs64 written by David Horrocks is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven (DirectX 9+)

The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.

Changelog:

• Fixed CPU opcodes SHS SHA SHY SHX ARR (decimal mode) to pass the VICE tests.
• Added SID noise write back behaviour.
• Corrected the SID master volume position to be after the SID filters. Was broken since v1.0.8.8.
• SID ring modulation fix.
• Corrected sector gaps when reading a D64.
• Adjusted 1541 drive motor spin down timing as required for Wonderland XIII by Censor Design.
• Fixed fault with save state / load state.
• Fixed fault with FDI save.
• Fixed Ultimax open address fetch.

Download:

• Hoxs64 64 bit v1.0.9.1 (920)
• Hoxs64 32 bit v1.0.9.1 (878)
• Hoxs64 Ansi Win98/2K v1.0.9.1 (845)

source: hoxs64.net

Commodore Floppy Disk Drive 1541 Repair (#1)

Defect:

• Motor runs continuously.
• Loading a Program or a Directory freeze the computer.
• Misaligned.

Repair:

• Replace 901229-05 (UB4)
• Replace 7414 (UA1)
• Head Alignment.

Gallery of the repair:

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Commodore Floppy Disk Drive 1541 Repair (#2)

Defect:

• Write Protect Problem.

Repair:

• A wire of the infrared LED was broken. The problem is remove the glue and the heat shrink tube around the LED.

Gallery of the repair:

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Commodore Floppy Disk Drive 1541 Not Repaired (#3/#4/#5)

Defect:

• Don’t read anything.

These Floppy Disk Drive have the Read Head interrupted. This seems to be the most common problem in the Mitsumi (Newtronics) drives.

Gallery:

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Commodore Floppy Disk Drive 1541 Repair (#6)

Defect:

• Loading a Program or a Directory freeze the computer.

Repair:

• Replace VIA 6522 (UC3)

Gallery of the repair:

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Commodore Floppy Disk Drive 1541 Repair (#7)

Defect:

• Loading a Program or a Directory freeze the computer.

Repair:

• Replace 7414 (UA1)

Gallery of the repair:

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Commodore Floppy Disk Drive 1541 Repair (#8)

Defect:

• Motor runs continuously.
• Loading a Program or a Directory freeze the computer.

Repair:

• Replace CPU 6502 (UC4)
• Replace 7414 (UA1)

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore 64 [ASSY 250407] Repair (#1)

Defect:

• Startup screen Scrambled/Garbage.

Repair:

• Replaced the IC socket of MOS 6569 (VIC-II) oxidized.

Gallery of the repair:

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Commodore 64 [ASSY 250407] Repair (#2)

Defect:

• Garbage Graphics.

Repair:

• Replaced MOS 6569 (VIC-II).

Gallery of the repair:

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Commodore VIC-20 [ASSY 250403] Repair

Defect:

• Black Screen.

Repair:

• Replaced MOS 6502 (UE10).

Gallery of the repair:

Amiga 600 (REV1.5) badly Distorted Clipped Saturated audio Repair

This Amiga 600 has suffered several months ago serious problems of the leakages capacitors.

The amiga has worked for a period and then the sound has stopped to working with the classic distorted/clipped audio defect.

I have replaced the usual LF374 SMD with a TL084C 100% compatible and everything has started to work perfectly.

Gallery of the repair:

Commodore Amiga 500 (ASSY 312510 REV.5) Repair

Defect:

• Black Screen.

Repair:

• Replaced a 74LS244 (U35)
• I have removed a rusty part of the pcb to see if the tracks are interrupted or in a bad state.

Note:

• This Amiga has already been repaired in years past, not from me.

Gallery of the repair:

This is another nice test cartridge can help a little bit the repairs, many thanks to the author of the DIAG264 software.

Gallery:

source: diag264 blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk