Most liked posts in thread: What's new Pussycat too?

Thanks Andy. The case for the Stylophone arrived a week earlier than expected. With just enough extra space in it's width to fit the audio out cable I provided. I had it connected to my 1200XL's PC speakers earlier and it sounded 100% better. So I'm expecting an exponential improvement once it's connect to the Hi-Fi.

I discovered new sounds eerily similar to blaster sounds from Star Wars. Though I remember hearing/seeing in an old Star Wars documentary that they made the blaster sounds from hitting a beam on an electrical tower (the big cross country type) and recording it. Which I in-fact, proved to myself and younger brother, as kids, when I did the same thing to an electrical tower myself and did indeed get a very loud Star Wars blaster sound.

This was done while visiting the grandparents, which happens to be the land I inherited and now live on, and that same electrical tower sits but 50 meters from me now.

 

My Pokey MAX V3 arrived today, awaiting installment into my 1200XL, which won't be until after I've finished with my 800, which I haven't yet.



I've been doing trouble shooting on the 800 as I got a black screen after installing dual-PIA board and Sophia 2. I had the issue with Sophia 2 the first time I tried too-this is a replacement, but at least the first time, reinstalling the original GTIA made the 800 work again, this time it does not! Anyway, I've temporarily reverted the 800 to stock, and I am at least back to a blue screen on power-up, frozen, with a cursor at the very top, but it's progress.

I have a feeling a 74LSXX IC went out, it couldn't take the stress of more upgrades and all the upgrades taxing it. So I've decided to go ahead and upgrade all my 74LSXX(x) IC's with 74HC or 74F which are newer, faster, more efficient versions. Hopefully that will get things fixed and avoid future issues with timing, clock, signals, etc. that I've been sometimes having with the 800 since I started upgrading it.

Edit: After going through the 800 Field Service Manual and trouble shooting with the multimeter, I was lead to the Pokey (Pokeymax) and swapping it out for the original Pokey worked, my 800, in stock mode, is working again. So now I have been going over wiring and connections on the Pokeymax upgrade. the last I still have to check are the two connections soldered to the CPU board.

If after I make sure the solder job is good there, if it still doesn't work, that means that my Pokeymax that I've only had installed for about 6 months has gone bad. If that is the case, then I'll be installing my new Pokeymax V3 in the 800 while I look into getting a replacement for the V2 which I'll just install in the 1200XL instead. I hope Retronics will replace it for free (even if I have to pay shipping), but I don't know if it's been too long or not, I'll have to send a PM to Duddy, the face of Retronics.

P.S. scratch that. I just remembered that once plugged in the socket the Pokeymax will work as a standard Pokey, so it can't be the CPU connections, I must have fried it with static electricity or something while working on my 800. It warns explicitly about handling the board and avoid static electricity as it can be easily fried (just like the Incognito and other, modern Atari boards that use programmable flash type chips and surface mount tech.

It's my fault for not taking the proper precautions in discharging myself and the board properly before handling. It's not something that one has to worry about much with old through-board DIP tech as much, and I've grown lazy in using anit-static precautions. So I guess I'll have to order another Pokeymax for the 1200XL and install the V3 in my 800. And I might as well get a V3 for the 1200XL now too. Water under the bridge, onward and upward, at least I have the V3 just in time, and I'll have my 800 working again in short-order with even more capabilities than planned.

 

But as of the 19th it will all be fine...

Saw 640,000 kids sent home because of COVID worries, vast increases across the UK, and yet we will all be able to pack in to a cinema / football match / club / bloody everywhere and no one will get the virus..

Thanks Boris, you f*cking muppet...

The world is going to hell in a handcart, and all Boris can do is fiddle while Rome burns..

After all the talk of how effective the vaccines are, we are now talking about "living with COVID" and people still dying after having both jabs..

There's a bull somewhere who is very empty, as I can smell its shit from here..

 

My latest Atari acquisition arrived today. My Euro-7800 I bought from @nysavant Now I'll be able to acquire and play some of those late 7800 releases that never made it state-side and try them out on the real thing instead of an emulator! Even a few of the "lost" shooter titles I've been yearning for about a decade or more since I discovered they existed (and repro editions sold on eBay). Of course I think there is an all-in-one flashcart available for the 7800 now, so I can just find the roms and download them.

While everything did arrive in what I assume is the same condition they were sent (a couple light abrasions on the case that I think I can clean/buff out) which is excellent condition. My brother and I got a big laugh (mine was a bit nervous) when the box arrived with "fragile" clearly labeled all over, yet the box looks like it was used for the ball in a football match! We think someone in one of the shipping companies that had it was having a bad day and targeted it just because it was labeled "fragile."...

 

I finally bought a SIDE3 cartridge as an early birthday present to myself. @Retro Lemon was excellent and it was shipped next day and arrived the following day. Really happy with it, now I need to spend some time working on different partitions and APT/FAT16 and FAT32 layouts. I bought a 16GB SD card which should be big enough ( I hope ). Once I updated the SDX on the SIDE3 the RTC worked, reading on Atari Age there was a problem earlier but it’s been sorted with the latest release.
For my Commodore fix I have ordered a SIDFX board so I can have a dual SID setup. After I bought the ARMSID I have two 6581’s so I plan to fit it into my C128. If anyone is interested I will create a little blog post showing it being fitted.
I have also ordered some PCB’s to build a C64 WiFi modem so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out. Just did it for a laugh really as the parts were not too expensive.

 

BRILLIANT, Rich.

Please do show us how you get on as all the projects on here that you guys get busy with are always interesting.

Shows us all just how you went about it and great to see the improved kit afterwards.

Enjoy, mate - I'm out for another solar roasting and clean the car inside and out as Bev says she's travelled in cleaner refuse trucks.

Have a great weekend, fellas.

 

Definitely interested in vyper68's commodore projects, dual Sid and wifi modem. It would be great to see pictures and a little "how to" blog post teaching morons like me how to take on hardware mods for our beloved 8bit machines.

 

My copy of 'The Last Squadron' official release cartridge (8 levels instead of 4 and plenty of new enemies, power-ups and tweaked graphics) arrived today. I actually ordered two of the "budget" edition which is a complete game package minus a hat, back-pack, and comics in polish for the regular and collector's editions. I don't have enough space for my memorabilia as-is and if I squeeze more in, it needs to be true old school and nostalgic. This is all just new.

Anyway, a nicely done package and it even had an outer mailing box (for each copy) closed with security tape that says "the last Squadron" on it-ruined once opened) both inside an outer box the size of a shoe box. The other copy is just going into hiding for a while, NIB. The original intent was to be an item I send with the 800XL for my friend Danny, if I ever get around to finishing it and Paul's 1200XL and get them sent off. But, I may just keep it for some other special future event or circumstance that I don't know of yet (to give to someone at that time, that is).

I don't know how soon I'll be able to try it out, my 800 is currently in pieces in the middle of the Dual-PIA upgrade and re-install of a replacement Sophia 2, and Pokeymax. I've been too busy with work or equipment for work I haven't touched anything for weeks now.

I also got another Skunkboard for my Jaguar. It's a device that lets you flash a couple of cartridge roms too, commercial or proto, and play on a real Jaguar.

 

I pre-ordered Flob and it's in the post to me now! I'm also expecting the Infocom-like Text adventure (I think I posted an image of it up this page or on the last one or two before) 'Hybernated: Director's Cut' which I pre-ordered and it was charged to my account on the 1st, so I assume it's in the post.

As for what I have new in hand, I've got a few new toys for my Atari Jaguar:

A skunkboard V5 developer board w/Jaguar embossed thumb drive to use with it ($130), which I need for a "skunkworks" Jaguar group I'm involved with now as a beta tester and I may contribute pixel art.

The Jaguar Game Drive ($180), which is an SD cart w/menu system that can store and play all the Jaguar cartridge roms and home-brews. Firmware for playing Jaguar CD ISO images off of it are still in the works. But I have a Jaguar CD with all the CD games so I'm not concerned. What I didn't have was all the game cartridges, which I now have access to all those games with the GD. I now share my 8GB mini-SD card with the Jaguar GD and my Ender 3 Pro 3D printer as the Jaguar's library may take up a couple of gigs, leaving plenty for printer files still.

And a new re-manufactured pro-controller (~$75) for my Jaguar system. I have an original (They're selling for $500, or at least were before the knock-offs) but it needs a new IC, which also arrived recently, but I haven't repaired it since I have the knock-off now. I'll repair the original, test it and then put it on indefinite display in my glass case.

And lots of post-card and flyer ads and stickers from the dealers.

 

Well, another pre-order invoice just hit me, for $138.00 total. But this one I really need as it's an SD card cartridge for my 7800 which I only have two games for, and not only are 7800 games expensive, but I have a PAL console making them that much more with International shipping. Now I'll be able to put all the PAL roms on this device. This is, I believe, that last pre-order I still needed fulfilled, and I am pretty sure the last toy I'll be getting this year. I've collected so much in the past year that I have still to use or get the full use out of, or install to use, plus my robot arm for me to build and interface with the 800. plus all the other repairs and restorations and upgrades that have been on the list for years, I'll have plenty to do over the months of my business off-season; November/December-March. Though I'll probably be able to find more time now that we've finally gotten past the chaos and have settled into a pretty regular schedule with the business.

The Dragonfly. I ordered the Burgundy, but it also comes in purple. This baby also upgrades the 7800's sound with either a Pokey or Stereo Pokemax + COVOX and a Yamaha YM2151 IC module (sound similar to the ST's YM2149 but with 8 channels instead of 3!) I ordered one with just the YM2151 module as I have extra Pokey's and as of yet there is nothing for stereo or quad Pokey's and Covox (yet!) But there is stuff that makes use of the Yamaha sound chip. This device of course needs power, and one must supply their own PSU to the Dragonfly, but, it has a pass-thru power cable to the 7800 and powers it as well, so still only one PSU.

 

Nice little pressies there Matt, have fun with them..

I went back to looking at a Fujinet for some reason, dunno why I looked, I don't have the money and in truth, I still can't create a use for me. Just me being a pillock as always. I can't think of anything I'd want for either machine that would have a real use, between the SD-Max, the AVG, The Ultimate + and the SIO hub I have more than I need already.

Hated letting the Amiga 1200 go, but needed the cash..Always the way..

Well, I hope everyone else is enjoying the hobby, I am in my dismal way, it may not seem like it but I am enjoying stuff in a low key way..

 

Thanks, Al, I'm like the rest of us, I get sometimes bored and want a new 'toy' to brighten the day up with but unlike me in the old days who had disposable income I cannot simply buy it for the sake of it. To be honest, it's taught me a lesson about thinking ahead and what really is more important. I don't even use the fancy bits I have a lot, so getting a device I really would not use just to be up with the crowd is daft.

As for a Mini Amiga, eek, wonder what core the emulation is based around, like you, I'm out!

 

Fantastic acquisition that for your 7800, Matt.
The Dragonfly sounds like a winner time and time again - excellent choice.
OK, a bit on the dear side but like you say, what price the 7800 (PAL) carts back catalogue plus impressive homebrew range?
You'll have access to the whole caboodle AND with so much in the way of enhancements - that 7800 of yours will REALLY ROCK!
Please post a vid or two of you in action with your new beast when you get a mo!

 

Happy birthday in advance Matt, 30 again??

You should not feel guilty re the nice bits you got Matt, you work bloody hard for your gear where I sit on my slightly too large arse, you work for it, you deserve it..

When I worked, I never felt bad about getting stuff, sometimes I spent too much but I was never stupid, the mortgage got paid, the house looked after and made sure both of us had a bit of safety. As you say, things can just change and my world did, in not a good way but I'm a tough old cookie and have learnt to be more thinking

You enjoy your stuff, as said, you deserve it just as all they guys on here do, as long as you take care of the essentials then I don't see an issue with getting some fun in this rather nasty world that is out there..

Paul..

 

Matt, you live off the land, not many folk are truly cut out for that, many moan if they have to get up before 8am and not get a full hour's dinner break let alone having to actually work for a living. Many where I live have made it their way of life to live off benefits, as their parents did before them. I was brought up with the notion that if you wanted something, you worked hard for it. I've done work as varied as sat in an office as management, all the way to lifting huge refrigeration units (by hand) and lots in between. Basically, like you, whatever it took to pay the bills.

Hence, I say that you deserve all the little treats, you bloody well earn them...You are proud of what you have done in life and so you should be..

Well done that man and the same to anyone with that ethic..

 

From what I can see / hear, those of us who do not work on here only are not working because of severe trauma from the nature of the work we did. Mine hit as mental health and then falling off one roof on to another during work amongst numerous illness issues. The point, we all worked as hard as can be (I rarely big myself up but when it comes to hard work I gave every bit of me). You Matt are, as Richie says, the embodiment of the grafting lifestyle that helped make countries great.

Good on you...

Your reward, to play some 5200 stuff.... Does not seem fair but you generated the ability to get those treats..

 

Happy Birthday Matt, hope you have had a good day

 

Thanks. I've had a productive day. I spent the day doing chores and projects that I haven't had time to do for weeks. I dusted and cleaned up my Atari XL "command center" for the first time in weeks. The dust was thick. And did some other organizing in my room. I took a couple of naps in between.

And a few days ago I made a deal with one of my customers to barter for some mowing (he lost his job), the first item I got in exchange for a $100 mowing (about 2-3 acres) is an old Craftsman lawn tractor trailer he had. In good working order, but it was all rusty. So I sanded it down and applied some rust-converter acid stuff to it that turns rust inert. It has to sit for 24 hours then be washed off. I did that after work the last couple of days. Today I re-painted it to match my Craftsman LT1000 lawn tractor that I rebuilt and restored this past spring. All that is left is to replace the Craftsman logo decals on the sides.

This trailer is the top-of-the-line model and size, can haul 1500lbs. It not only tilts to dump and instead of a removable rear gate, it has a bar you pull and it swings open. New it's in the range of $400-500. I spent $20 on paint. The Craftsman mower I spent about $250 restoring, including a seat cover and a mower cover to protect my handy work. It's in like-new condition again too. This same model, same size engine and mowing deck, is $2,500.00 new today...

The Chevy Blazer there I paid $1000 for, and put about $1000 into it to fix up. A 1997 model, it's been running like a champ for over a year now. The motor runs like new (thanks to me), even though it has over 237,000 miles on it. I figure I can maintain it and keep it running up to 4-500,000 miles, then rebuild the engine and transmission and go another 500,000 miles. Basically I'll have it the rest of my life. The body still looks new, and it's the heavy-duty 4x4 model with full shielding on the under carriage, high-volume oil pump, etc. You can see the heavy-duty frame coming down below the body.



I just finished a steak and potato dinner, and am now resting and visiting here. We'll have my birthday cake after a while this evening, it's red velvet, with vanilla and chocolate ice-cream and Ready-Whip on top.

 

Sounds like a great day all round Matt. Liking your truck, but the tractor and trailer combo is awesome

 

Here is my brand new Link232-WiFi Board for the C64, courtesy Richard aka @Vyper68. He was so kind to include three more boards for me as a surprise. What a good little community we have here on AOC! Can't wait to test the WiFi board and find out about the gifts that Richard was so kind to include.

More news in the near future, as I discover how to use them all!

 

Nice Lynx card Rich.
Have you thought about getting the screen mod for your Lynx?

 

Yeah Allen, It's on my wish list. They are out of stock right now but the guy said they expect some more in around two weeks time. They seem a lot easier to fit nowadays compared to the old ones.

 

Nice one Paul. I had read about it. The original was known for being a bugger to beat as well if I remember.
Won't get a chance to play it anytime soon, but those winter nights will soon be drawing in on us....

 

Trust me, the original is a piece of cake compared, the Atari version of Return of Fury is even harder than the C64 version of the game, the coder had to use a cheat mode to finish the Atari version of his game

But saying that, it's a great fun update of Bruce Lee, there's a lot more use of the environment and certain things need to be jumped as you find out quickly

Had the game for some months..

 

I think someone is going to need to build an extension to their house