C64Pico Follow-up

Soldering almost done, except for the space bar all tactile buttons in place.

Using my USBasp programmer I tried to program the Atmega328pb.

Same one I used for:

I first needed to implement some udev rules to get the rights for the reader correct.

#/etc/udev/rules.d/99-usbasp.rules
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="16c0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="05dc", GROUP="dialout"

Next I tried to burn a bootloader.

Well, not as planned, back to the drawing board.

Hopefully I compiled at least the Pico part correctly.

Mikrotik fix corrupt update.

Mikrotik is in netboot mode only, not accessible using winbox/web or IP.
(This is one of my smaller AP’s)

Below the log from my DHCP server

Mar 12 23:30:43 shibari dhcpd[3559351]: BOOTREQUEST from c4:ad:34:aa:aa:39 via p1p1.10
Mar 12 23:30:43 shibari dhcpd[3559351]: BOOTREPLY on to c4:ad:34:aa:aa:39 via p1p1.10

Download netinstall (linux cli) from here:

https://mikrotik.com/download

Also the latest routeros, and in my case also wireless package for HAP2.
(There was a change in packaging, due to the limited size of the Hap2.)

Steps to take: Use a UTP cable to connect the hap to a pc or laptop.

config your ethernet to 192.168.88.2/24 and make sure you change the default gateway to 192.168.1.1 !
(Disable wifi)

Start below command

./netinstall -r -a 192.168.88.1 routeros-7.14.1-arm.npk

Disconnect/connect power and uploading should start.

Here is the text from my console

root@zspot:/home/henri/Downloads/mt# route add default gw 192.168.88.1
root@zspot:/home/henri/Downloads/mt# route -n
Kernel IP routing table
Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface
0.0.0.0         192.168.88.1    0.0.0.0         UG    0      0        0 enp0s31f6
192.168.88.0    0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U     0      0        0 enp0s31f6
192.168.122.0   0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U     0      0        0 virbr0
root@zspot:/home/henri/Downloads/mt# ip a s
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: enp0s31f6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether e0:70:ea:53:b3:6e brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.88.2/24 brd 192.168.88.255 scope global enp0s31f6
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
3: wlp0s20f3: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether f4:4e:e3:91:27:24 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
4: virbr0: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 52:54:00:b1:16:1a brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    inet 192.168.122.1/24 brd 192.168.122.255 scope global virbr0
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
root@zspot:/home/henri/Downloads/mt# ./netinstall -r -a 192.168.88.1 routeros-7.14.1-arm.npk 
Will reset config
Using server IP: 192.168.88.2
Starting PXE server
Waiting for RouterBOARD...
PXE client: C4:AD:34:AA:AA:39
Sending image: arm
Discovered RouterBOARD...
Formatting...
Sending package routeros-7.14.1-arm.npk ...
Ready for reboot...
Sent reboot command
See missing Wifi, upload Wifi package and reboot
Configure and enable your Wifi interfaces

Home Assistant Alarm with ESP Siren

I used to have a “professional” alarm system, but it was too limited.

But when making a new alarm system using Home Assistant I thought I could reuse some sensors and the very loud alarm.

Setting up the Alarm within HA was as described on the HA website.
I made a group for door and motion sensors.
Then I made groups for lighting and switches.

Now I can “ARM” the house.

  • Motion sensors like PIR and camera sensors are being used for detection.
  • Lights and sound will be turned on when motion is detected.
  • When arming the system, the siren mode of the camera’s is also turned on.
  • When intrusion is detected I get a pushover notification on my phone and watch.

The siren is about 4-5 Euro’s on Ali
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005006066524139.html

Schematic of the wemos controller

(I don’t have a Siren Fritzing part .. hence the speaker)

Used mosfet is a N-Channel 30N06L, resistor is 10K

ESPHome code

esphome:
  name: bigalarm
  friendly_name: BigAlarm

esp8266:
  board: d1_mini

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "1xxfIYKv6tpzt7HQKYOxxxxxxxxTBETHkmy7cwDE="

ota:
  password: "5d23a3af438fe0xxxxxxxx2ff29ab6"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Bigalarm Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "6muixxxxxoA"

captive_portal:

output:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: 0
    id: 'generic_out'
switch:
  - platform: output
    name: "BigAlarm"
    output: 'generic_out'

Started working on C64Pico with Bigred

A week ago I got the last components delivered to my doorstep.

This project was made by Silvervest and it’s f*ckin awesome.

https://github.com/silvervest/c64pico

I was afraid to start this myself, SMD is on another level for me.
But my good friend Marco said … No problem!

So I ordered components online, which was not easy.
Selecting the correct parts, sizes and options.

These things are really really small

Using tweezers to place the components was even difficult.
The slippery tiny bastard got catapulted everywhere. (Or got stuck on fingers, soldering iron and alike)
Many small components got lost into the 7th dimension. Never to be found again.

Awesome to work on this together, but Marco said that I have to try it myself.
Welllll, I got 3/4 of the ATmega328PB-A perfectly soldered, then I notished that it was crooked.
Desoldering was a mess, and I heated the PCB TOO much with the heatgun.

My messed-up PCB, and f*cked-up IC. Leave it to the professionals.

Next step for me is soldering the 75 mini buttons!

Got a Trinitron display from him, I was looking for this for a long time.

Today some lasercutting for Home Assistant Spotify RFID

see:

Lasercutting a case and the playlist selectors.

Close-up RFID stickers I’m using.

Below is a test with different methods.
I like reading the booklets, so a CD i cool, and I don’t need a CD player.
(The RFID tag is in the case)
The little cards are for bought audio files I don’t have a physical CD for.

Wooden case with RFID reader being powered by external powerbank

What am I gonna do?
Cube as I had? Wooden playlist selectors as in above movies?
The cards I’ve printed?
Maybe a small record player with an RFID reader inside?

3D printed like this? https://makerworld.com/en/models/66671
UPDATE: 20240327 – Little Record I 3D printed with little groves.

Home Assistant code for Playlist and Album automations
(B.t.w. The method is still using an Arduino and MQTT topics, as mentioned before)

# ALBUM PLAYER
alias: SpotifyAlbum
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: mqtt
    topic: spotify/rfid/id
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ trigger.payload in playlistkeys.keys() }}"
action:
  - service: media_player.play_media
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.spotify_fashice
    data:
      media_content_type: album
      media_content_id: spotify:album:{{ playlistkeys.get(trigger.payload) }}
mode: single
variables:
  playlistkeys:
    "71719674": 20TANs4iXVeLp387zjgmec
    "71260666": 5325ECcBhnIysoqyENGCYi
    "71457530": 7wyOeD9HcUuMFMO8pTflap
# PLAYLIST PLAYER
alias: SpotifyCube
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: mqtt
    topic: spotify/rfid/id
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ trigger.payload in playlistkeys.keys() }}"
action:
  - service: media_player.play_media
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.spotify_fashice
    data:
      media_content_type: playlist
      media_content_id: spotify:user:spotify:playlist:{{ playlistkeys.get(trigger.payload) }}
variables:
  playlistkeys:
    "69229050": 0SOay3RkjojjevrF5lHMON
    "69491194": 5f8w3UHlD9Ozz6Y4VHs6kF
    "69753338": 0bJvpsn0TDZwIDUjz4d75S
    "70015482": 37i9dQZF1DX9HwI3Crikcm
    "70277626": 37i9dQZF1EQmK1rjZuPGDt
    "70539770": 2KeRLMmGMxI5UgzE7m0iCp

In the past, Aloha and I made a simple solution like this using barcodes in < 2000s.
Due to the many obscure recordings I have, I am thinking about creating something like this for Picore player and my local Squeezebox server.

Logitech Squeezebox / Media Server Solution

alias: squeezealbumplay
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: mqtt
    topic: spotify/rfid/id
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ trigger.payload in playlistkeys.keys() }}"
action:
  - service: squeezebox.call_method
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.squeezebox
    data:
      command: playlist
      parameters:
        - play
        - "{{ playlistkeys.get(trigger.payload) }}"
mode: single
variables:
  playlistkeys:
    "71719674": /tank/celtic/Celtic/M/Martyn Bennett/Bothy Culture/
    "71719675": /tank/celtic/Celtic/D/Davy Spillane/Atlantic Bridge/
    "2159056458": /tank/celtic/Celtic/M/Michael McGoldrick/Arc/

Several things in progress, help me if you can.

I used MCE to control some Windows VMs and programs running in it in the past. (Below link and a web interface engine which on the backend converted BWW/BMW (bagpipe music files) to PDF automated comes to mind)

Now, I implemented this:

https://iotlink.gitlab.io/

Controlling a Windows VM using MQTT, very nice!
(Use HA mqtt or mosquitto_pub in bash)

Question: anyone got a better solution to control programs within a VM? Let me know.

Next:

I’m creating a new case for my Wemos, LCD16x2, button, Led, Buzzer project (see other post)

I’m redesigning my previous case in blender.

But I really miss something like a generator function for different cases, like the one I made using Openscad.
Question: Anyone know a tool/add-on to generate cases?
I used a model of a wemos to get the usb connector/screw holes in place.

My spotify rfid case I will create using wooden lasercut cutouts.
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2024/03/06/revisiting-the-spotify-cube/

Next one:

In the past, I’ve controlled some blender lights using python and MQTT. But now I’m trying to control it using DMX.

Example of lighting in our living using mock-up couch and tables.

I found a cool add-on called Blender-DMX.
(B.t.w. wled can also use DMX)

Looks cool but, can I make a floorplan with this?

Blender add-on configuration

In Home Assistant I used a HACS add-on called : Art-net LED Lighting for DMX

Configuration can be done in configuration.yaml

light:
- platform: artnet_led
  host: BLENDERHOSTIP                   # IP of Art-Net Node
  max_fps: 25                           
  refresh_every: 0                      # Resend values if no fades are running every x seconds, 0 disables automatic refresh
  node_type: artnet-direct              # Which protocol to use
  universes:                            # Support for multiple universes
    1:                                  # .Nr of Universe (see configuration of your Art-Net Node)
      send_partial_universe: True       # Only send the universe which contains data
      devices:
        - channel: 1                    # first channel of dmx dimmer
          name: dmx_dimmer_rgbw         # name
          type: rgbw                    # type
          transition: 1                 # default duration of fades in sec. 
          channel_size: 8bit            # width of the channel sent to DMX device, default "8bit", "16bit", "24bit" and "32bit" 
          channel_setup: Wrgb           # This is the magic to get colors correct

It works, but I’m not happy, anyone got a better solution?

And I have to check out GDTF profiles for fixtures.

At a later stage I’m going to 3d print a white floorplan about 1cm high, with LEDs and buttons. A floorplan you can hang on your wall.

Revisiting the Spotify Cube

In the past I posted about my genre selector for Spotify using a cube.

Most was done using NodeRed and a python script.

Now, I’ve moved it to Home Assistant using a single automation.
(Maybe the Arduino sketch can be made with Esphome also.
But I don’t have time for that)
It still uses the Arduino sketch as before, which uses Mqtt to post the RFID code to Mosquitto.

My new Home Assistant automation

alias: SpotifyCube
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: mqtt
    topic: spotify/rfid/id
condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: "{{ trigger.payload in playlistkeys.keys() }}"
action:
  - service: media_player.play_media
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.spotify_fash
    data:
      media_content_type: playlist
      media_content_id: spotify:user:spotify:playlist:{{ playlistkeys.get(trigger.payload) }}
variables:
  playlistkeys:
    "70539770": 2KeRLMmGMxI5UgzE7m0iCx
    "70277626": 37i9dQZF1EQmK1rjZuPGDx
    "69229050": 0SOay3RkjojjevrF5lHMOx
    "70015482": 37i9dQZF1DX9HwI3Crikcx
    "69753338": 0bJvpsn0TDZwIDUjz4d75x
    "69491194": 5f8w3UHlD9Ozz6Y4VHs6kx

Some notes about above script:

  • The MQTT topic is configured in the sketch below
  • The playlist keys are at the bottom
    “RFIDID”: playliststring as can be found in web spotify

Pasted link

Arduino Code

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>

#define SS_PIN 15
#define RST_PIN 0

MFRC522 mfrc522(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);
unsigned long cardId = 0;

WiFiClient net;
PubSubClient client(net);
const char* mqtt_server = "IPMQTTBROKER";
const char* ssid = "MYSSID";
const char* password = "MYWIFIPASSWORD";

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);
  SPI.begin();
  mfrc522.PCD_Init();
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
     delay(100);
    client.setCallback(callback);
      delay(100);
    client.subscribe("spotify/rfid/in/#");
}

void reconnect() {
  while (WiFi.waitForConnectResult() != WL_CONNECTED) {
  }

  while (!client.connected()) {
    String clientId = "NodeMCUClient-";
    clientId += String(random(0xffff), HEX);

    if (!client.connect(clientId.c_str(), "rfidclient", "...")) {
      Serial.print("failed, rc=");
      Serial.print(client.state());
      delay(5000);
    }

  }
  client.subscribe("spotify/rfid/in/#");
}

void callback(char* topic, byte* payload, unsigned int length) {
    String topicStr = topic;
      byte value = atoi((char*)payload);
}

void loop() {
    if (!client.connected()) {
    reconnect();
  }
  client.loop();

  if (!mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
    return;
  }

  if (!mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
    return;
  }

  cardId = getCardId();
  char buffer[10];
  sprintf(buffer, "%lu", cardId);
  client.publish("spotify/rfid/id", buffer);

  uint8_t control = 0x00;
  do {
    control = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
      if (!mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) {
        if (mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
          control |= 0x16;
        }
        if (mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) {
          control |= 0x16;
        }
        control += 0x1;
      }
      control += 0x4;
    }

    delay(0);
  } while (control == 13 || control == 14);

  reconnect();
  client.publish("spotify/rfid/id", "0");
  delay(500);

  mfrc522.PICC_HaltA();
  mfrc522.PCD_StopCrypto1();
}

unsigned long getCardId() {
  byte readCard[4];
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    readCard[i] = mfrc522.uid.uidByte[i];
  }

  return (unsigned long)readCard[0] << 24
    | (unsigned long)readCard[1] << 16
    | (unsigned long)readCard[2] << 8
    | (unsigned long)readCard[3];
}

Adding a VGA terminal to my 6502

Using a LilyGo TTGO ESP32 VGA32, I’m connecting my breadboard 6502 to a serial vga terminal with its own keyboard.

Due to a lot of moving around, new places, new homes I dumped a lot of terminal hardware.
Also are those old terminals too big and use too much power.

I’m going to use this DIY screen.
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2021/03/24/broken-or-slow-laptop-screen-still-works/

Using the Libraries from Fabrizio Di Vittorio, named FabGL, you can transform this device into a dumb terminal, game device, VIC-20, a 8086 pc and more.
There are even some projects to turn this into a C64.

But the main thing I want to do: A simple terminal.
(I probably revisit the other options again at a later stage)

My Wozmon bios has bare minimum support for serial communication, so i have to do some bitbanging.
(6502 is using a 6551 ACIA)

Sound from the ESP32 VGA board.

  • Chipset: TTGO Micro32 (ESP32 240Mhz dual core processor)
  • Flash memory: 4MB
  • SRAM: 520KB
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Supply voltage: 3.3V DC or 5V DC
  • GPIO voltage: 3.3V*
  • USB to serial converter: CP2102 or CH9102F (drivers)
  • VGA connection
  • PS/2: keyboard connection
  • PS/2: mouse connection
  • Built-in Li-ion/Li-Po battery charging circuit: TP4054 chip can charge up to 500mA

My google-fu is still strong (and Tunepal ramblings)

Google-Fu : (informal) Skill in using search engines (especially Google) to quickly find useful information on the Internet.

I was thinking of a famous piece of music, but what was it?

Whistling it, while using Shazam or Tunepal, didn’t work.

So I googled “well known classical part repeats sped up and transposes”

The second link was a Reddit link named : “Need help finding a song that starts very slow and builds to be frantic!”

First YT link in there: In the Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt) by Edvard Grieg

Epic tune!

“In the Hall of the Mountain King” is a piece of orchestral music composed by Edvard Grieg in 1875 as incidental music for the sixth scene of act 2 in Henrik Ibsen’s 1867 play Peer Gynt. It was originally part of Opus 23 but was later extracted as the final piece of Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1, Op. 46.

I’ve used Tunepal many times, it’s great for folkies!

Sometimes it works also on classical pieces, because they were arranged into folk music.

https://tunepal.org/

I bought the Android app, because I liked it so much.

Tunepal is a search-by-playing search engine for traditional Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Breton, American marching band and Canadian tunes.
By playing a 12-second extract from a traditional tune on an instrument such as the flute or fiddle, you can:

  • Retrieve score matches from a database of over 24,000 music scores
  • View and playback, share and download the score
  • Find and play other recordings of the tune from a collection of over 30 million recordings

Tunepal is a search-by-playing search engine for traditional Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Breton, American marching band and Canadian tunes.

On the Record page, click the Tunepal logo or tap the screen if your computer has a touch screen. Start playing straight away. Don’t wait for the countdown to complete. Tunepal works best if there is no silence at the start of the recording.

Tunepal works best with “legato” style instruments such as the tin-whistle, flute, concertina, accordion, pipes and fiddle. It doesn’t work very well with “plucked string” instruments such as the banjo and harp.

To find a tune using Tunepal, first make sure you have a PC microphone connected to your computer or use the phone app

If your instrument uses a different “fundamental note” to the usual D (for example you are playing a C flute) or you are playing a tune in an unusual key, then you can adjust the transcription algorithm by choosing a different “fundamental” from the settings page.

You can filter the search results from the settings page to limit searches to certain tunebooks or time signatures.

Home Assistant and Harmony Hub Scripts

I’ve got a Logitech Harmony Hub to IR control devices.

When adding this to your home assistant, you initially only get the Activities.

But I want to add single button presses.
I was going to re-visit my IR remote project.
(The IR blaster and the IR wemos, see previous posts)

Thanks to Duncan I had a second look at this solution

Check the files using the file editor.
Search for /homeassistant/harmony_xxxxxxxx.conf

It will show the Hub devices and their capabilities.

Short example below

{
    "Activities": {
        "-1": "PowerOff",
        "42652474": "Watch TV",
        "43054933": "Squeeze",
        "43054959": "Watch Netflix",
        "43072690": "Switch",
        "43073688": "Spotify",
        "43557114": "Kodi",
        "49494467": "Tv on",
        "52476284": "Boxon",
        "52476285": "Boxoff"
    },
    "Devices": {
        "Google Chromecast": {
            "commands": [],
            "id": "67134460"
        },
        "LG TV": {
            "commands": [
                "PowerOff",
                "PowerOn",
                "PowerToggle",
                ".",
                "-",
                "0",
 -----------8<----------------------------- SNIP SNAP
               "SportsMode"
            ],
            "id": "67134658"
        },
        "Onkyo AV Receiver": {
            "commands": [
                "PowerOff",
                "PowerOn",
 -----------8<----------------------------- SNIP SNAP
                "VolumeLevelUp5Step"
            ],
            "id": "67134459"
        },
        "arcadyan DVR": {
            "commands": [
                "PowerToggle",
 -----------8<----------------------------- SNIP SNAP
                "TV"
            ],
            "id": "67134775"
        }
    }
}

Lets create a Script for this

See the IDs above to refer to commands below.

alias: Netflix
sequence:
  - service: remote.send_command
    target:
      device_id: 7e82a825decabedbc98a0b5ce2ac5d78
    data:
      num_repeats: 1
      delay_secs: 0.4
      hold_secs: 1.2
      command: PowerOn
      device: "67134658"
  - service: remote.send_command
    metadata: {}
    data:
      num_repeats: 1
      delay_secs: 0.4
      hold_secs: 0
      command: InputStb/Dvr
      device: "67134459"
    target:
      device_id: 7e82a825decabedbc98a0b5ce2ac5d78
  - service: remote.send_command
    metadata: {}
    data:
      num_repeats: 1
      delay_secs: 0.4
      hold_secs: 0
      command: Netflix
      device: "67134658"
    target:
      device_id: 7e82a825decabedbc98a0b5ce2ac5d78
mode: single

Add these scripts to buttons

type: entities
entities:
  - script.allmediaoff
  - script.netflix
  - script.tvon

"If something is worth doing, it's worth overdoing."