Most liked posts in thread: Commodore C16 Repair

I have heatsinked the CPU and TED chips and the PCB's have arrived for the PLA replacement. If anyone needs a PLA for their Plus 4 or C16/116 I have spares.
I plan to fit an internal SD2IEC like Tynemouth Software did, there is so much space inside the C16's case it is insane. They could have fitted a 3.5" Drive inside the case.

Imagine a TED computer.. Has 64KB RAM, no built-in software but has empty sockets for ROM's that can be fitted. It has a built-in 1581 3.5 disk drive on the left hand side, keeps the C16's keyboard. It also has a SID chip sound board available to be fitted if needed.
That would be a interesting project. Kind of goes against the original concept of a computer that would sell for $49 and compete against the ZX Spectrum, which is what Bill Herd said was the original goal.
The C116 with it's chiclet keyboard would have been that machine. However, I still don't think the C116 would have made a dent against the Speccy, It had too much of a head start and too much software support. The C116 would have needed at least 32KB not 16KB, especially by the time it was released. Looking at some of the C16 games people did make some great games in that tiny amount of memory but the extra memory of the Plus4 makes all the difference. The Plus4 version of Mercenary-Escape from Targ is really good. Pet Rescue from Psytronik is a really good, modern game. I think I'm rambling so I'll get my coat.

 

Careful Ritchie, he's being predatory now Bolt the doors at night

 

Spent more time tonight playing with the C16. Plugged in a 9pin joystick adaptor and hooked it up to a 14" crt. Was like being a kid again, sitting on the floor playing classics like POD for over an hour. I've now put around 25 games on the SD card for my next session.

Up until this point I would have always said the CPC 464 was my second favourite 8bit micro after the 800XL but now I think the C16 has taken its place. Loving it so far

Going to get the Amstrad re-advertised and hopefully find it a new home next.

 

Here is my C16... very nice condition.

 

Yeah the C16 is in great nick and there is no yellowing of the keyboard. So now it’s working I’m really pleased with it. Like I said earlier I prefer the C16 over the Plus 4 and C116 so I’m a happy bunny.

 

Sounds like it's going to be a brilliant machine when finished Richie. The C16/Plus 4 are way under-rated. Some really good games especially within 16k like you say. The newer homebrew 64k titles are very impressive.

My three favourite minority systems are
Commodore 16
Oric Atmos
Dragon 32
Would love to have a little setup with all of them switched into a 14" crt telly

 

Pictures of the upgrade process...

 

End result : ))

 

aha, so not just a machine with spare mem, a transformer

 

Sounds like the C16 is coming along nicely Richie, you are doing some great work on it.
This may have overtaken the Dragon as my favourite machine of yours now lol

 

A quick thank you to Ritchie, the beast has landed. Never realised how big the PS3 was, its foooooohuge.

Not plugged in yet, we had a family celebration over something, and I had a couple too many glasses of fall over wine. Slightly hungover, feels horrible. Will fire up the machine in a little bit. Horses for courses I think, there's more variation on the C64 but as I know nish about the C16, I trust your word.

Ah lovely cuppa almost sugar free tea just arrived....Now the day has started..

 

But out of all the computers and consoles, do you have a clear fave in each, or even overall?

I have always had a love of the Snes, was playing Axelay this morning. There's tons of fun on it. Fave computer, well the old Amiga 1200 covers that. Spent so much time on it, adopted the Internet early on it, I used it as much launcher for everything, just as I do on this mini PC.

 

I know the C64 is a way more popular machine than the C16 range but I have a major soft spot for it as apart from my 800XL, the Plus/4 was the only other 8-bit computer I owned while growing up.

 

Great choices console wise, think they both are a brilliant machine. The arcade of the time ports on the PCE are a pleasure to play, almost perfect. The shooters are my cup of tea, and the PCE just had so many. The poor old Dreamcast never got the love it deserved, but there are games on that machine that still shine today. Not every person is a big fan of Crazy Taxi, it just got splashed everywhere, but in terms of a port, it's brill. Jet Set Radio, genius. And of course the arcady shooters are also damn fun (bar the 'bullet hell' ones). Yeah, top machines..

I did have a C128, lost it when they cleared out my mums flat along with most of my accumulated gear. Trouble is, I never used the 128 as a 128, the built-in CPM was of no interest to me, I knew of the MCM, but had no clue it had a sprite editor

I also have a soft spot for Oric's, it's a small hole in the garden...(crap old joke)

 

Hi fellas.
As you know, I have zero knowledge of the console market but enjoy hearing all your anecdotes, reports and recommendations.
Because of this my fave console must seem a joke but my mate Kiddy's Atari 2600 Woody - and his VIC-20 3.5K micro got me started, as did Meds' 16K ZX81 so they get honorary mentions from me cos without experiencing the sheer joy of those early addictive, but blocky, arcade games on the 2600, the colour and sound of the VIC and the expandability and sheer joy of learning to program on the Sinclair wee monochrome beast, I would not be here today and instead would probably be stuck in me bunker collecting stamps, retro crisp packets or Dinky toys
Oh, and did I mention previously I also have a soft spot for ORICs??
NO?!
YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!

 

Swear I saw it on ebay this morning

 

I have a bedroom cupboard with comics from the 70's and 80's, been in there and moved in house changes for years, really need to sort them and sell or swap for credit at a comic store. Blooming loads of 'em.

 

Vyper68, I didn't read all this thread but I will in the next few hours - I was attracted by it because I do have a C16 with an expansion kit which used to work fine a few times after my dear friend Carlo made the 64K RAM expansion. The last time I turned it on, it gave me the opening screen for 2 seconds and then the monitor went black. My next attempts to turn it on again were all useless. The screen remained black.

The RAM expansion kit is the same as the one Vyper68 mounted in his C16. I tried to check a few things on the original Commodore PSU and used a brand-new PSU with an inverted polarity. Next weekend I will check the fuse and the RAM chips. I only hope the problem is not the CPU as I hear they are not so common to find/buy these days.

If I don't succeed (which is very likely to happen) at fixing the C16 on my own, I will probably ask a friend to take a look. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on what to check first. Thanks.

 

Best of luck Richie, it's in good hands, I've heard that a lot of the new PLA's actually are as compatible and run much better, I know that's the case for the C64, so why not for the 16. Never had a 16 so the TED chip is a mystery to me (Commodore do love a custom chip)

 

I have a Pi1541 for disk emulation and I have been able to create new D64 images and add PRG files to them to make compilation disks so I can work it that way. I need to get the chips sorted first before I splash out on a SD2IEC from Future was 8-Bit or similar. Plus there seems to be a lack of C16/+4 versions.

 

Glad you got it going, knew it was in the right hands..Never had a Plus 4 or a C16, I joined at the Vic20 stage, still have great memories of the old 20.

Was quite a leap from ZX80/81 to Vic20, colour AND sound..

Glad its working, hope you find some cheap storage / loader.

 

Because I like to tinker with games, the more features the better, but I did love my Vic.

 

I have a wee soft spot for the Vic, it always seemed a cheerful machine lol. My TheC64 maxi is the Vic 20 design one for that very reason. And Jeff Minters games were excellent on it.

 

He did a lovely submarine game on a C16 that he showed us, no idea if it ever got released. It was before he was the big programmer.

The ZX80 has some amazing games considering it's limitations. I remember a comp called 1K wonders, a title I have never found, found similar named stuff but not what I got mail order. What this guy crammed into 1K was incredible. But yeah, the Vic20 was my first real games computer, Jelly Monsters (?) was a great PAC man clone. Arcadia was great, Hell, I even enjoy the text only adventures

 

Looks great...Nicely done..