I have decided to replace my Amiga 1000 keyboard (US version) with the space key yellowed and a hole in the plastic caused by a wrong installation with a Amiga 1000 keyboard (Italian version) cosmetically perfect and running.

I bought a few things from the site Retro Innovations of Jim Brain.

6540 Rom Adapter:

• This PCB converts the MOS 6540 DIP pinout to a JEDEC standard 2764-27512 EPROM pinout.  The optional 5 upper address lines are available via pads complete with provision for pullup resistors (10K).

Commodore IEC Disk Drive Cable:

• This very short cable is useful for my second Ultimate 1541.

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Changelog SD HxCFloppyEmulator v1.8.2.30 (fat) & v2.1.2.30 (slim):

• SDCard Support : Delay added right after any command (PNY microSD support).
• Watchdog delay changed to 16s.
• Brownout reset setting changed.

Download:

• HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v1.8.2.30 (952)
• Slim HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v2.1.2.30 (915)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

Autopsy:

123►

The Genius PC is a home computer from VTech. Released in the late 90s, it is one of the last microcomputers.

This computer have different names in each country, making it even harder to track down the information.

• France : VTech Genius PC
• Germany : VTech Genius IQ 128 and VTech TV 512
• UK : VTech IT Unlimited
• USA : VTech Precomputer Unlimited
• Also mentioned on the french packaging : Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada.

Hardware:

• Motorola MC68EC000, 16-bit external databus, 32MHz
• 256K of RAM
• 2M of ROM – Sharp LH537NWN mask ROM
• Mass storage : 128KB flash memory – AM29F010
• Cartridge port, apparently on memory bus with system ROM and storage flash. The french system comes with cartridges only containing straps, likely shorting some pins enable extra features…

Downlod: VTECH Unlimited Manual (1563)

Hardware Video Review:

source: pulkomandy.tk/projects/avrstuff/wiki/geniuspc

This program works as a program launcher for Commodore machines. Even if it was originally intended for a device with sd2iec firmware, it works also with any CBM drive (without sd2iec functions of course).

It is a multi-system version derived from the discontinued sd2brwse v.0.6 by Hannu Nuotio (fork() of sdbrowse v.0.7)

The Vic-20 Mega-Cart Installer is based on sys.asm sources of mega-tools by Daniel Kahlin, sort routine by Michael Kircher.

Current supported machines:

• C64.
• C64DTV.
• Vic-20 unexpanded.
• Vic-20 +3K RAM.
• Vic-20 +8K RAM or plus (for FE3 use this version)
• Vic-20 with Mega-Cart.
• C16 / C116 / Plus4.
• C128 in 64 mode.
• C128 80 Columns.

Tested drives:

• MMC2IEC
• SD2IEC
• uIEC
• C64-SD (any version, with ITS modules too)
• 1541 (with JiffyDOS too)
• 1541-II
• 1571
• 1581

Changelog:

• v.0.1 – 01-Sep-2009 (Start of project, C64/C64DTV only)
• v.0.2 – 21-Oct-2009 (First working version for Vic-20 +8K RAM)
• v.0.3 – 06-Jan-2010 (Added memory config auto-detection for Vic-20 selected program)
• v.0.4 – 19-Jan-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 with Mega-Cart and manual start mode)
• v.0.5 – 10-Feb-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 unexpanded and Vic-20 +3K RAM)
• v.1.0 – 05-Mar-2010 (First public version, minor issues fixed, C64 and Vic-20 supported)
• v.1.1 – 22-Jun-2010 (Added support for D41 and DNP file images, sd2iec firmware v.0.9.0 or higher required)
• v.1.2 – 09-Oct-2010 (Added SJLOAD speed-up option to the manual mode of the Mega-cart version)
• v.1.3 – 31-May-2012 (Added support for C16/C116/Plus4, Sort directories, cosmetic changes)
• v.1.4 – 19-Jul-2012 (Added JIFFYDTV speed-up support for C64-DTV, Clear screen before RUN)
• v.1.5 – 03-Mar-2013 (Added support for C128, and uppercases disk images D64,D81,D71 etc.)
• v.1.6 – 20-Aug-2013 (Added support for Tap files using ITS modules, case insensitive disk images Dnp, TaP, m2I etc.)

Download: CBM FileBrowser v1.6 (3494)

source: vic20.it/cbmfilebrowser

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Sitzgruppe, TRIAD, Lifeless Incorporated, Prof. Pi^2, Onslaught, Nostalgia, Genesis Project and Laxity.

Download:

• Pimple Panic Preview (987)
• Defmon &D (984)
• Motor Massacre / Road Raiders 101% +18DIR (1042)
• Warriors +6 101% (954)
• Stalingrad Campaign +D and Map (993)
• The Vice Squad (preview) (985)
• Bunker Runner (988)
• Schloss-Geist +4H (953)
• Hells Bells +H (969)
• Frospi +4 (1010)
• Cuby +3H (985)
• The Great Escape +2H (984)
• Lemmings [unofficial] Preview + (992)
• The Vice Squad Preview +4 (973)
• Dictator 101% +h (1000)
• All Games in One Archive (2599)

source: csdb.dk

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Changelog SD HxCFloppyEmulator v1.8.2.26 (fat) &  v2.1.2.26 (slim):

• Device init : the whole internal memory is now cleared at power-up.

Download:

• HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v1.8.2.26 (958)
• Slim HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v2.1.2.26 (912)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

ASAP is a player of 8-bit Atari music for modern computers and mobile devices. It emulates the POKEY sound chip and the 6502 processor.

The project was initially based on the routines from the Atari800 emulator, but the current version has a completely new original emulation core.

Changelog ASAP 3.1.5 (2013-08-17):

• Android: fixed playback on Android 4.1+, disconnecting headset pauses playback, updates position and avoids “process not responding” during seek, starts in root directory if there’s no memory card.
• GStreamer plugin gets autoplugged (read: SAPs play in GStreamer-based players).
• WASAP plays music to its very end.
• Fixed crash on malformed RMT files.
• Restored Audacious 2.x compatibility.
• DEB packages.
• foobar2000 `*.fb2k-component` package.

Download: ASAP v3.1.5 (1290)

source: asap.sourceforge.net

If you are the lucky owners of these eprom: Motorola MCM 68766C you can do something really cute, hardware permitting. Example: use this EPROM like a ROM for some Devices and Computers Commodore without using an adapter ;-D

I had to use the EPROM programmer Promenade C1 for Commodore 64 to burn these eprom because all my programmers don’t support these type of eprom.

Download:

• Eprom Motorola MCM68766C Datasheet (1802)
• Prom-Shell v2.00 (672)

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Firmware Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator v2.1.2.24:

• SD Access enhanced : Better handling, track buffer size increased.
• Floppy interface mode enhanced : New Pin02/Pin34 Custom settings.
• SDCard file system support enhanced : Now support FAT 12, FAT 16 & FAT 32 formatted SDCard ! Any SDCard size are now supported !
• Direct access mode : New function to get and set easily the current index number in “file selector” & indexed mode.
• Lots of internal code optimizations/improvements and corrections…
• Write Support completely redesigned / reworked :
• Low level track format support added !:
  • The host computer/machine can now do low level format of the disk images ! By this way the floppy disk image can be formatted with the right disk layout from the machine. All the tracks parameters used by the machine (sector size, interleave/skew, gap, format value, index mark…) will be written to the virtual disk tracks ! By this way the user have just to copy some blank HFE images to the SDCard, and format them with the host machine as with a real floppy disk to make them usable. Some blank disk images with various density will be available for download on the HxC2001 website.
  • SD/DD/HD sector write support : all sector sizes are now supported ! : 128B, 256B, 512B, 1024B, 2048B, 4096B, 8192B…
  • Unaligned track/sector write is now possible : Sectors of host formatted images and images imported from stream files (Kryoflux…) can now be written !

Download:

• Firmware Slim SD HxCFloppyEmulator v2.1.2.24 (988)

source: hxc2001.free.fr

For retro computing fans, arcade enthusiasts and fpga developers, newbies and experts. The replay will let you relive and revive classics or develop new tech.

source: fpgaarcade.com

The HxC Floppy Drive Emulator is a software and hardware system created by jfdn aka Jeff.

The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive (list of supported Computer/Hardware).

There are two differents emulators:

• A USB version which allows to connect the floppy disk drive interface of the computer to a PC via a USB cable.
• A SDCARD version which allows to emulate floppy disks which images are stored in a SDCARD.

Download:

• HxC Floppy Emulator Firmware v1.8.2.24 (1069)

Firmware SD HxCFloppyEmulator v1.8.2.24:

• Write Support completely redesigned / reworked :
  • Low level track format support added!
  • The host computer/machine can now do low level format of the disk images !
  • By this way the floppy disk image can be formatted with the right disk layout from the machine.
  • All the tracks parameters used by the machine (sector size, interleave/skew, gap, format value, index mark…)
  • will be written to the virtual disk tracks !
  • By this way the user have just to copy some blank HFE images to the SDCard, and format them with the host machine
  • as with a real floppy disk to make them usable.
  • Some blank disk images with various density will available for download on the HxC2001 website.
  • SD/DD/HD sector write support : all sector sizes are now supported ! : 128B, 256B, 512B, 1024B, 2048B, 4096B, 8192B…

  Read more…

Autopsy:

12►

I have removed the main filter capacitor of 0,47μF 250v (RIFA), avoiding that can explode.

from Wikipedia:

The Apple Monitor // was a CRT-based green monochrome 12-inch monitor manufactured by Apple Computer for the Apple II personal computer family. Apple didn’t manufacture the monitor until halfway through the lifespan of the II series.

The business-line Apple /// had its own Apple Monitor /// long before. Many home users of Apple II computers used their televisions as computer monitors before the Monitor // was released. It featured an inner vertical-swiveling frame. This allowed users to adjust the viewing angle up or down to suit their taste without the addition of a tilt-and-swivel device.

The Monitor // was widely adjustable for the time, as it included adjustments for the size and location of the image on the screen. These adjustments had a very small influence on the picture, however, much to the disliking of some users. The Monitor // was designed for the Apple II+, but was used widely throughout the Apple II product line, most recognizably on the Apple IIe.

Download:

• Apple Monitor II User\'s Manual (1379)
• Apple Monitor II Circuit Diagram (372)

source: wikipedia

A new version of the firmware for the interface C64SD Infinity + ITS Module by Manosoft is released.

Changelog:

• Added support for the long filenames and the ones containing special characters.

Download: C64SD Firmware v0.10.3.8 (1374)

source: manosoft.it