First tests with a Vuze Xr. (unedited unoptimized)
It can record 360 movies or take 360 degrees pictures. Besides that it can do stereoscopic recording for using in VR glasses. (2D 180 tested in a oculus vr set) In the past i made those 360 degrees pictures manually using Hugin for example. Also stereoscopic images, using two pictures. But it was a lot of work, and most of the times the quality wasn’t worth it.
Due to eeproms being scarce, i’m going to use a arduino as Rom emulator. Below is a test setup i’m going to build.
Made the drawing in Kicad.
KiCad is a free software suite for electronic design automation. It facilitates the design and simulation of electronic hardware. It features an integrated environment for schematic capture, PCB layout, manufacturing file viewing, SPICE simulation, and engineering calculation.
Memory assignment:
$8000-FFFF - Rom
$4000-7FFF - Ram ?
$2000-3FFF - Multiple times the 6522 *
$0000-???? - Ram probably
* This is due to the fact i am only using Address lines: 0,1,2,3,13,14,15
As posted before, i found a cartridge in my collection a while ago. I don’t know where i’ve got this one from.
While searching on the internet for more information, i really couldn’t find anything about it. Not even on collectors sites.
Where did it come from, what does it do?
It says: Data Manager 64 (1984) , Softworld and Handic.
I can find many cartridges by Handic. I’ve checked all database/filers i could find. Non looked like this.
Some screenshots
Next to try .. Dumping the cartridge to file. Probably by changing the way the C64 starts a autostart cartridge. So i have to modify the cartridge port, and put a cross connection on the lines EXROM and GAME, this will change the memory addresses ($8000/$A000) where a cartridge is placed. Then the commodore will start normally, and i can dump the cartrige memory locations to a file.
So pins 8 and 9 have to be switched around. The C64 autostarts a cartridge when it find certain data on $8000
Meanwhile i try to contact some collectors of cartridges.
Update: 20220721 .. VIA chip installed Update: 20220801 .. changed layout, addressing and added rom, see below post.
Such a influencial little processor … Apple, Vic-20, C64 (with modifications), PET, BBC Micro, Oric, Atari and Nintendo.
Another (big brother) influencial CPU is the 68000. (Amiga/Atari ST/ Macintosh/Sinclair)
I’ve made a 680x computer in the past, and i want to make another one.
This one will be based on a 6502, because i used to program on this cpu when i got my Vic-20.
Goals of this project:
6502 Cpu
Memory and Rom
Rom must contain a good machinecode monitor
Adjustable clock
Now using Ben Eatons clock diagram, but i will move this to a programmable arduino, with a display which shows the clock rate
Hex keyboard ro program the machine, just like picture below
Display which was a resolution of at least 640×480
It will be a slow screen, character printing and a gfx mode?
First probably a SPLC780 HD44780, so i can enter/edit machine code.
Hopefully using a SID chip
Hardware monitoring of the address and data lines like movie below
Programming via serial/usb, by halting the 6502 cpu and pushing data into memory or fake-eprom with a arduino
Save/restore by modifying memory
Small
Example of Hex keyboard
Update 20220721
Via chip is on the board. For now i’m using a old display, like this one
I was planning to use this one
The graphic capable 12864 display (128 x 64 pixels)
I will reuse the schematics i’ve used for the 680x computer. (Posted above)
Update: 20220801
Added ROM, and changed layout. Every breadboard has a function now.
Upper left, Ben’s Clock module (this is going to be changed to a arduino with display which shows frequency) Upper right, power-on reset (Reused part of C64 schematic) Second row left, the 6502 On the right the ROM, RAM i also going to install here. 3rd Row, Address decoding, this is going to be a dynamic setup using dip switches and a eeprom for decoding (i know, this kind of decoding is slow, but i don’t need speed), on the right probably the hex keyboard with its own 6522. 4rd row left, a temporary display 16X2 connected via a 6522. Here i want to have a graphical display. 4rd row right (not started this part yet) a sound device. SID or a Yamaha sound chip i still have.
Below some examples and connection diagrams to control displays. More code and complete schematics will be added on this page or on a separate projects page.
UPDATE 20230119 Cost of 20×4 display in 1998
LCD
I’ve used a LCD display like this (HITACHI HD44780) on my PC in the 90s, and also written code to use this as a monitoring device on my amiga.
On Linux i used LcdProc – This module also was equiped with a serial connector
Now (2023) it is 8 euros! When bought now fl to euro 98 Euro or 107 $
Some arduino’s have embedded displays like those i’ve used for a Lora project.
No usedWifi packet monitorLora test
Other means of connecting : SPI
SPI connected display
Nextion
Nextion is a Human Machine Interface (HMI) solution combining an onboard processor and memory touch display with Nextion Editor software for HMI GUI project development.
Using the Nextion Editor software, you can quickly develop the HMI GUI by drag-and-drop components (graphics, text, button, slider, etc.) and ASCII text-based instructions for coding how components interact on the display side.
Nextion HMI display connects to peripheral MCU via TTL Serial (5V, TX, RX, GND) to provide event notifications that peripheral MCU can act on, the peripheral MCU can easily update progress, and status back to Nextion display utilizing simple ASCII text-based instructions.
edit cmdline.txt
add "fbcon=map:10 fbcon=font:ProFont6x11 logo.nologo"
at the end
edit config.txt
add between custom comments at the bottom
dtoverlay=piscreen,speed=24000000,rotate=90
# Or check http://www.lcdwiki.com/3.5inch_RPi_Display
Above display’s i’ve used for Picore Players and the Lidar POC
To try: Getting above display running with a arduino https://github.com/PaulStoffregen/XPT2046_Touchscreen
Raspberry HDMI display
Easiest of them all, just connect with HDMI, there is a adaptor for hdmi-hdmi (versions 1,2,3) and hdmi-mini-hdmi for RPi4 variants.
Epaper and 7-Segment displays
Other means of displaying information are for example
Epaper
ESP with epaper module, disconnected power for a while, artifacts appear.
7 Segment displays
I used a lot of 7-Segment display’s in the past. They look cool and are hardcore.
My homebrew computer uses this
Nixie tubes!
And there are https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixie_tube .. I’ve never had those
Above bigger 2D display i used with Wled and a digital microphone, so its sound reactive. The lower part i got in recently .
Example is using my ledserver, see other post, but i intent to made a easy to configure node red panel where the to be controlled devices are preconfigured.
My tank mouse died .. beyond repair. Blue 9pins to ps2 works great!
A switchless (using key combination) diskdrive switcher df0<>df1
I used to make a floppy switch myself in the past, i used a wirewrap socket, and a cross switch. Made a hole in the back, with the little switch. This one does not need a hole in your case for the switch.
Own floppy switch
Gotek Floppydrive Emulator with Rotary Encoder
Gotek drive ontop of my 5.25″ drive with adaptorDisplay and usbstick port
This drive supports a lot of disk formats and systems, i will have to look into that .. https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/wiki/Host-Platforms
One Vic-20 working ( switched some keyboards and chips around )
Something i made in 1984? .. then the fuse in my vic-20 power blew (250v 160mA)
Another Vic-20 – with a Bad U31 (Oscillator)? or Vic video chip?
Left Vic-20 with buildin power convertor, right more common version.C64 C with a broken color-ram OR U29 74LS74 chipVic Graf Cartridge, graph a function with annoying sound
I’ve been using this for a while now, and i’m really impressed by it. It just connects to the Serial Din of your C64, draws power from the Cassette port. … And even looks like a mini drive!
I’ve been converting Disks to images as well as runnig previously converted D64 images on a real C64 again.
Also the internet provides loads of images to run again.
Converting and running:
For real floppy to image i used a empty image file. Made my real original drive device number 9, and used Dracopy (also below)
Image running on your real C64, just put a D64 disk image on your SDcard.
There is a disk selector and run program you can use. (See below) Also you can use the buttons for disk swap/change.
FB64 tool to select a D64 image to startDracopy
"If something is worth doing, it's worth overdoing."