Commodore 64 loading devices

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May 292011
 

Ive recently got a couple of devices for loading games onto the Commodore 64.
The first is an SD2IEC which allows ROMs to be loaded from an SD card. This is a homemade version (thanks go to SirMorris) but works very well. If you install JiffyDOS then loading time is as fast as it gonna get on the 64. I loaded up Last Ninja 2 in about 4 seconds!


Second device is something called a Cassadapt. This allows me to load .WAV files straight into the C64 from a PC or other sound source.
Its not something many people would want as it brings back the long loading times that plagued the 64 but being a bit of a purist I happen to like some of the loading screens and music you get with some games, plus its that whole nostalgia thing too.
Its a very nice device which has the ability to copy .WAVs onto cassette using the original Commodore data cassette unit and vice versa. It even has a built in program that helps you calibrate the trigger level to obtain optimum sound levels.



I came across a small problem with JiffyDOS installed as it doesn’t support tape drives or similar, only disk based devices so I removed the 27c128 EPROM that JiffyDOS was on and fitted a 27c256 with both the C64 kernel and JiffyDOS programmed onto it and fitted a switch at the back to switch between the 2 as needed. Its a simple case of toggling pin 27 (A14) high an low to select kernels.

Job lot of broken boards

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Apr 282011
 

Got a box of broken boards from a guy on the Jamma+ forums.
Included are:
Rastan Saga – white screen
Hot Shots Tennis – constantly resets
Mortal Kombat – messed up controls
Seibu Soccer (Seibu) – no sound, very low
Karate Champ – non jamma pinout, looks clean though
Taito F3 Motherboard – no game to test it
X-Men Vs Streetfighter – Working
Sega STV Titan Motherboard + Die Hard Arcade – games dont load
Two Crude – all the ROMs are missing
Street Fighter 2 – bootleg – intermittently working
Another Street Fighter 2 bootleg – Dead, all roms and rams are dead, not worth fixing

The X-Men vs Streetfighter board is fully working and even has a working battery.
The SF2 bootleg is intermittently working, looks like the M5 bootleg.
All the other boards have the fault the guy stated.
Im pretty pleased with this lot.

 Posted by at 5:17 pm

SEGA Naomi super capacitor

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Apr 252011
 

The Naomi has a 0.1F super capacitor on board labelled C29, in between the button cell battery and the 8 pin DIP labelled 315-6188. This capacitor is a usual suspect on a broken board as it is prone to leaking and damaging the traces to the serial EEPROM. If you own a Naomi board (not sure if it applies to the Naomi 2) you should check the condition of this cap and replace it.
The capacitors can be ordered from the link below:

Mouser

 Posted by at 4:42 pm

Retrobright attempt

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Apr 222011
 

After reading a simple guide by 1200xl over on the RCM forum, I decided to give this retrobrighting thing a go.
Retrobrighting is a process of removing the yellowing that tends to occur on old plastics. I’ll not go into the science behind it cause i don’t really know it.
As a test subject I used the casing of one of my Fluke 9010a pods.

I ordered some peroxide online and this Saturday was the ideal day to try as to make this work, sunlight is required.
Apply a nice thick coating of the peroxide to the washed down plastic and wrap it in clingfilm, then place it in the sun for a few hours turning it every so often to get all sides.
Probably should mention that rubber gloves are a must for this job as the peroxide doesn’t feel good on bare skin!
After its been roasted, remove the clingfilm and wash off the peroxide and let the plastic dry.

Pleased with the results for a first attempt and have since don’t the body of the Fluke with better results.
I was advised to apply a UV treatment after this as the yellowing will return but at this point I haven’t got any. I’ll get some ordered though.
Will no doubt have more stuff to do in the future.

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