Most liked posts in thread: C64/128 Link232 WiFi project.

Well I have gotten to the bottom of the problem. I ended up buying another 6551 from Cricklewood as I said earlier and fitting that still did not improve things so I bought yet another ESP8226 Wemos D1 board as well and I programmed that and it still didn’t work.
So I read the firmware update process again and discovered that the developer was using version 2.7.4 of the ESP board libraries and I was using the most current version ( 3.0.1 ) as you would do. Downgrading my version to 2.7.4 and programming both the D1 Mini and D1 Mini Pro resulted in working carts!
So if anyone else has a go at this project you need to use version 2.7.4 of the library to program the Wemos boards, at least until the developer changes things.
I ordered a CMOS version of the 6551 ACIA so when that arrives I’ll have enough to make another two. If anyone would like one let me know.
These run at 19200 Baud because they are cartridge based and not using the user port. Novaterm works well with it as does CCGS 2021 and it works with the C128 as well.
I spent yesterday afternoon visiting various C64 BBS’s and had a look around it was good fun being back online. The last time I had a C64 online was 1985 with a 300 Baud Modem with a Compuserve subscription.

 

The 6551AP that arrived from China doesn’t work so I have no idea what this chip is but apart from being a 28 pin DIP package I have no idea, checking the voltages Vss and Vdd are in the right place but it could literally be anything.
It cost me £6 where the SY6551 from Cricklewood was £9 plus Shipping so it was 30% more expensive even before shipping, however, it’s a genuine part and I could return it easily if it were faulty. On the flip side the chip from China could be worth £0.25 in reality so they have made a massive profit on that. So going forward custom IC’s from U.K./EU/US & Canada from now on.

 

The more modern CMOS version of the ACIA arrived a couple of days ago from Greece. This part is a 65c51 and in this case produced by Harris semiconductors rather than WDC. It works fine in this Link232 Cart so can be used as an alternative part if the original 6551 is hard to find.
The BBS’es that run PETSCII are quite good, and have a bit more colour to them compared to Bob Term on the A8, I am using Novaterm now on the 64/128 but I think Bob Term is still my favourite program across both formats.

 

It sounds nice but although I do BBS, it's really very rare and I do it via the PC.

But on a different note, nice to see such a wide set of projects you have ongoing, lots of new add-ons.

Enjoy them all Richie..

Paul..

 

If anyone is interested the GitHub is here…

https://github.com/dabonetn/Link232-Wifi

 

I found a shop in Cricklewood who does online sales and they have some 6551 ACIA chips for sale, bit more expensive than eBay but at least I’m pretty sure they will be genuine.
Cricklewood Electronics and Silicon-Ark are the two stores I use right now outside of eBay if anyone needs a recommendation they are both good sellers.

 

I would never buy a SID chip from China.

 

I'm glad my dual SID's are secure inside my Pokeymax 3.

As well my:
Quad Pokey's, dual PSG's and four channel Covox, with Paula style DMA.

I buy basic components like resisters and capacitors and 74LS/74HC/74F logic chips from China and so far, so good. But I don't know that I'd ever buy processors or ram from China. And especially not vintage custom chips like VIC II and SID and GTIA/ANTIC and Pokey. Or even 6502's, 6507's ,6509's or 6510's.

 

Wonderful to hear that you are enjoying such a blast by logging on to old BBSes again, Richie, just as we all did when 1st tentatively trying out the world of micro comms back in the mid-late 80s and early 90s, before the advent of the WWW. Great days, mate, and nights spent..."looking around" and seeing if you could hack in/d'load some software or leave some bulletin board msgs for the sysop etc.

 

Do you want one Andy? I have enough parts to build at least two more.

 

Aw, mate.

Very very kind of you.

See if any other Commodore die hards jump in 1st as at the mo I aint even getting a short sesh on the Atari or Oric let alone the C64 breadbin but of course there will come a time in the near future when I do get it all set back up again so it would be a super project to look forwards to.

Cheers, buddy.

Much appreciated, Rich.

 

Yep, I like the idea of the Fujinet but at the moment, as you say, my AVG does almost all of it's work..

Loading stuff remotely would just be a 'toy', I have gigs of stuff to hand..

 

I might be interested in one piece of this link232 wifi interface, Rich. Although I usually connect my c64 to bbses through the ultimate II plus, which makes the whole process very easy and comfortable, I'd like to try the feeling of a wifi connection to my Commodore's, this works with the c128 80 column mode, doesn't it? And a bare board is ok with me.

 

I could also make a review of this homebrew project for RetroMagazine World. Low cost hardware projects are very well welcome by readers.

 

Go for it Alex and Rich...

 

The Link232 is supposed to work with both. I have 128 specific terminal software but no 80 column monitor or converter for VGA. I was using it on the 128 in 64 mode so I could use 40 Col mode terminal software like Novaterm. To the 128 or 64 the WiFi module just appears as a Hayes compatible modem and you use the normal “at” commands to control it. I think the project comes in under £15, less if you get the 6551 from the Far East.

The GitHub is here https://github.com/dabonetn/Link232-Wifi

If you want a PCB just PM me

 

Well…
The board is made and the D1 mini is programmed but it’s not playing. The R6551AP I bought from China and I have my doubts about it. The top of the chip has been sanded and it’s very pitted and abrasive and the part number laser etched on top. I’ve tried IPA and Acetone and it’s not coming off. So I will need to order another ACIA from the USA or EU and try again.

 

Chip ordering from AliExpress etc is so hit-and-miss now, glad I have a spare SID in my spare machine..

 

Unfortunately it looks you were scamed by a fake chip from China... It is sadly usual, I also was once scamed with a fake TMS9929, just like Noel in this video :

 

I would not mind if the risk was at a low cost but its all sky high...

 

My SIDFX board arrived yesterday so my stereo C128 project is ready to start so I’ll be taking some pictures and starting a thread on it next week.

 

Do you want a Link232-WiFi cart Paul? The only thing I don’t have is the 3D printed case so it would be the bare PCB.

 

Rich, very kind offer but I'd never use it, as said the very small amount of time I BBS is done on the PC. As the Ultimate+ has an Ethernet I can network that way and apart from making sure it worked I've never used it.

But thank you for the really kind offer..

Paul..

I keep looking at the Fujinet on the Atari, but it's just not doing it enough for me, maybe if I saw others using it a bit more I might but at 87.00 UK its not on my list.

Maybe one day..Lottery allowing

 

The FujiNet is a great bit of kit, and it kind of makes the SIO2SD and SD-Max obsolete as it’s ATR and XEX support is excellent. It also has CAS support as well. If you don’t need the WiFi access then your AVG cart does a lot of what the FujiNet does so maybe not worth it right now.

 

PM on its way to you, @Vyper68 - thanks for your quick reply.