Commodore.news

High Resolution Extension - CBM/PET | Frank Linde has developed a HiRes card for the CBM 8296-D. The features of the High Resolution Extension (HRE) are: Resolution of 640 x 250 pixels. The CBM video signal and the HRE video signal can be mixed. Control of the HRE through the User Port (POKE). Integration of simple drawing tasks (GPU). You can read all the details on his blog.

Amiga Boing Ball | If you have a 3D printer you can now print your own Amiga Boing Ball. The ball can be printed with a single-head printer in two colours and you do not need any glue to put the ball together.

Housing whitening | On the Forum64 there is a thread on whitening the housing of retro computers. They are experimenting with a replacement for hydrogen peroxide and Oxi. In this method the housing is placed in a plastic container with Domol (cleaning solution), the container is placed in the sun for a day or two.

FPGA Arcade | The FPGA Arcade is an retro computer system developed by MikeJ and can be used to emulate (in hardware) many retro computers such as: Amiga, Apple II+, AtariST, Atari 800XL, BBC B, Commodore VIC-20 / C64, MSX and the Spectrum. Miflos has received his FPGA Arcade has build the system inside a mini-itx case. You can follow his progress on his blog.

GadgetUK164 C64 reparatie video's | GadgetUK164 has made an number of repair videos for the Commodore C64. The most recent videos are about CIA problems, looking at faulty chips, PLA repair, SID repair and repairing a missing pin on a SID chip.

Vulcan-74 | Radical Brad is working on a 6502 project. He is building an 1980's retro game system with the following rules: CPU: 6502, 74xx logic gates, breadboard, Video: VGA, 256 colours and 400x300 pixels, GPU system with Blitter and a sound system with 4 channels.

PCB repair | RetroGameModz has made a video about repairing a PCB. In this video you can see the repair of damaged surface mount solder pads as well as cleaning up corrosion from a leaking electrolytic capacitor.

Amiga 1200 PC | If you want to convert your Amiga 1200 to a PC you can watch this video. The components inside the A1200 are: Acer V3 751G I7 GT640M 8GB RAM, Blue-Ray, 240GB SSD, 2TB HDD, Keyrah V2, 2x USB 3.0, Retro mouse and a WinUAE Emulator.

U17 PLAnkton | The U17 PLAnkton is a replacement for the original PLA in the Commodore C64. This PLA replacement is developed by e5frog and is based on a Xilinx XC9536XL. The U17 PLAnkton is compatible with all C64 computers and it only uses 20 mA of current instead of 100 mA of the original PLA.

Amiga Ranger | Chrisxyz published a series of photos of the Amiga Ranger. The Amiga Ranger was to be the successor of the Amiga 1000. On the photos you can see the Zorro boards and a mock-up of the housing and the disk drives.

1541 Diagnostic Cartridge | Jani released an cartridge that can be used when testing or repairing a Commodore 1541 disk drive. The available programs are: Alignment check, Show BAM, Disk command, Directory, Error scan, Fast format, Head exerciser, Send I0, Reverse knock, Speed check, Performance test, Validate disk and Sector view.

Amiga RGB - YPrPb converter | AuSPuFF2 has developed and Amiga RGB to YPrPb component converter. The circuit is based on the Narmi design, but this design uses different operational amplifier and both +5 VDC and -5VDC power supplies. The circuit board is designed with SMD components to fit inside a SUB-D connector.

SID 8580 - 6581 adapter | Перезапуск is developing a adapter that makes it possible to use a SID 8580 with a motherboard for a SID 6581. To make this possible the adapter has a 12 to 9 VDC conversion, modifications for the filter capacitors, AD-convertor (POT) and audio output.

Mini 32K RAM expansion - VIC20 | k3ys developed an mini 32K RAM expansion that hides in the Commodore VIC20 cartridge port. The RAM expansion is based on the design from Adam Bergström. You can select how much RAM is active, enable or disable the cartridge and make the RAM read-only.

Video DAC - Commodore 128 | John Carlsen developed an video digital-to-analogue converter for the Commodore 128. This converter works together with the Gonbes GBS-8220 video converter. The video DAC converts the digital RGBI (red, green, blue, and intensity) signals accurately to the analogue levels used inside a genuine Commodore monitor.

Acrylic C64 | Lichtmichel is developing a small series of acrylic housings for the Commodore C64. You can add LED lighting and your own design of ventilation openings. The housing will be laser cut from acrylic and is made for the ASSY 250469 motherboard. But custom designs for other motherboards are possible.

A1200 Computer housing - Kickstarter | A new Kickstart project wants to produce new A1200 computer housings. The housing will be made with injection molds with a quality plastic (ASA) with anti-UV and will be super resistive. No yellowing anymore. The new housing are prepared for a CF slot, HcX display and video out.

Sum USB adapter - Amiga 500/2000/3000 | Retro 7-bit has developed the Sum USB adapter for the Amiga 1200. Now they have made an prototype for the Amiga 500, 2000 and 3000. You can watch a YouTube video and learn more about the Sum USB adapter for the A 500/2000/3000.

VIC20 - K9 | Chris Adams built a robot in 1982 that looked like a dog and he called it K9. After many years he decided to restore the K9 to its former glory. The K9 is controlled by a Commodore VIC20 with a speech synthesizer. You can read more about the K9 on his blog.

Servant64 | Servant64 is a Open-Source project that makes it possible to use a bidirectional connection between a Commodore 64 (User-port) and a Windows PC (USB). The hardware is based on cost effective and modular hardware.

Amiga reloaded | Individual Computers is developing a new Amiga motherboard. The features are: Form factor: A500 case. Chipset: AGA chips Alice, Lisa and Paula. CPU: A1200-compatible CPU slot. Power supply: 14 - 19 VDC. Video: 15kHz RGB / Indivision AGA MK2. Audio: 3.5mm stereo jack. Keyboard: A500 / A1200. ROMs: 1 MB flash ROM. Floppy Disk: PC disk drive: IO Subsystem: 32-bit, 14MB/s. Mass Storage: 2 CF-cards.

Minimig-MiST v1.0 | A new core for the MiST is now available. The features are: OCS, ECS and AGA chip-sets, ChipRAM: 0.5MB - 2.0MB, SlowRAM: 0.0MB - 1.5MB, FastRAM: 0.0MB - 24MB, CPU: 68000, 68010 and 68020, Kickstart: 1.2 - 3.1, Floppy disks, Hard disks, PAL / NTSC, Amiga mouse, joysticks, MIDI in/out and USB.

GCart Jr | Thomas Lövskog is developing cartridges for the Commodore VIC-20. The GCart Junior is a RAM expansion for the VIC-20. The features are: RAM expansion for Block 1, 2, 3 & 5 and RAM 1, 2 & 3. Memory enable, disable and write protect. RAM at IO#2 and IO#3. 16 MB Flash with super fast loading and a 3D printed casing.

WiFi - C64 | Schema is developing a WiFi cartridge for the Commodore C64. At this moment he has a working prototype that is communicating on 2400 Baud. You can use a standard terminal program for the communication and all the RS-232 signals are supported.

C64 Reloaded | Ilkka Sjöstedt wrote a blog about the C64 Reloaded. The C64 Reloaded is a new C64 motherboard. This motherboard is designed to use the original C64 chipset, but it is manufactured with today’s standards. Extras are: S-video and audio connectors, ROM switcher for Kernal and character set, standard 5 VDC power supply and you can order ZIF sockets for the chips.

Amiga Diagnostic Kit | For the Amiga A500/A2000 Commodore made an Diagnostic Kit. This system is a very rare and was only used by official Commodore service companies. Patrick from dottyflowers.com has acquired one of this diagnostic kits and has managed to rescue the software for this system using Kryoflux and the ADF workshop.

Lighthammer | This snapshot of an smack-a-mole arcade cabinet shows the new input device, the lighthammer. This new game and input device will be demonstrated (or you can play it yourself) on the Commodore meeting in Maarssen (the Netherlands) on june 20, 2015.

3D printed parts for Commodore / Amiga | Tommes is printing new parts for Commodore / Amiga computers. A few Examples are: Expansion Slot Cover for the Amiga 1000, Interlock Knobs for the SX-64, Commodore Monitor 1901 cover, F-Keys for C64C, etc.

List of Commodore Products | This is a very comprehensive list of Commodore equipment. The list was started by Jim Brain and is now being maintained by Bo Zimmerman. If you can add information to this list you can send Bo a message.

A1200 Audio Filter | RetroGameModz has made a video about the audio filter in the A1200. This video is a little troubleshooting guide on how to track down the problem in a case where the audio filter switching doesn't work as it should.

Diagnostic carts C64 / 128 | Jani collected information about diagnostic cartridges. You can find manuals, software and schematics for the C-64 Dead Test Kit, C-64 Diagnostic Assembly Kit, C-64 Diagnostic Rev 4.1.0, C-64 Diagnostic, C-128 Diagnostic, C-128 Diagnostic Assembly Kit, C-128 Diagnostic Rev 1.1 & 1.4 and C-128 DCR Integral Diag 1.0.

GLINK-LT | GLINK-LT is a modern clone of the Commodore VIC-1011A RS232 Userport adapter for Commodore 8-bit computers. The adapter supports 2400 Baud for BASIC and 9600 Baud for Novaterm and Striketerm. A reset button is also provided.

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