Search found 255 matches

by Radical Brad
Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:21 pm
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

Thanks for the comment! Yes, everything will function normally on the unmodified VIC-20. The final hardware version will even include an Expansion Port Breakout Socket so that a standard VIC cart can be inserted without having to unplug the V2K hardware. Only the Expansion port is used, so all other...
by Radical Brad
Sun Feb 11, 2018 1:36 pm
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

What a great day in the VIC-20 lab so far this afternoon! I realized why my image was not centered. It is because of the way I setup my video timing... // [25 MHZ BASE MHZ PIXEL TIMING] // HBP : 048 FROM 000 TO 047 // HPX : 640 FROM 048 TO 687 // HFP : 016 FROM 688 TO 703 // HSP : 096 FROM 704 TO 79...
by Radical Brad
Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:22 pm
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

More progress. I connected an XMega-256 to the board and used my BMP-2-DAT program to convert an image into assembly code for the XMega. Since the XMega only has 256K of program space, I could only load a 640 x 160 slice of the full image. This is fine for testing, and later I will add a serial link...
by Radical Brad
Sun Feb 11, 2018 10:32 am
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

So far it looks like 25MHz will be possible on the breadboard. I have added a temporary AVR that simulates the VIC-20 SyncMem programming sequence. This saves my VIC from any accidental wiring mishaps, and from hours of running idle. I know 25MHz is pushing the limits in a big way, so I used messy a...
by Radical Brad
Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:09 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Warning : Your VIC is now clasified as a Lethal Weapon!
Replies: 17
Views: 5725

Re: Warning : Your VIC is now clasified as a Lethal Weapon!

Very cool! I wonder how this conversation may go?... Honey, I am going to build an exact replica of the Tokamak Fusion Generator in the basement. The good news is that we will no longer need the backup generator. The bad news is that we will no longer have a basement. Brad Perhaps one day I may join...
by Radical Brad
Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:04 am
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: Speech synthesiser cartridge
Replies: 17
Views: 13206

Re: Speech synthesiser cartridge

I used to have one of those variants for the C64 (Currah version).
It was always great fun making it curse like a New York cabbie.

If anyone want to build one, I will swap an original SPO-256 chip even for a 6560-101.

Brad
by Radical Brad
Tue Feb 06, 2018 6:35 pm
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

What can be done in 30 minutes of free time?.... not much! I did manage to wire up the Sync Memory Counters to the Master Clock. What's the Frequency, Kenneth? http://lucidscience.com/temp/v2k/V2K%20-%20032.jpg 74HC590 counters in cascaded pairs. The counters are setup as an X Counter and a Y Counte...
by Radical Brad
Mon Feb 05, 2018 8:54 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Warning : Your VIC is now clasified as a Lethal Weapon!
Replies: 17
Views: 5725

Re: Warning : Your VIC is now clasified as a Lethal Weapon!

I have always been interested in dangerous machines and defying technical rules that state either things I should not do, or things that should not work. Perhaps one day I may join the expanding list of now 38 DIY nuclear reactor creators. http://www.bbc.com/news/10385853 If I ever go down that road...
by Radical Brad
Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:10 am
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

Working from the top of the board down now on the VGA Section, I have placed the 13 new ICs that will allow the VIC to program the Sync memory and get the VGA monitor to lock onto a 640x480 VGA frame. I am following the VGA spec right to the last nanosecond, so as long as timing holds between the co...
by Radical Brad
Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:27 pm
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

Since this project is no longer in "beta test" mode, I am forcing myself to cleanup the wiring on each completed segment before moving on to the next. The Operating System Loader and Expansion Port Buffer section is now complete... http://lucidscience.com/temp/v2k/V2K%20-%20029.jpg This se...
by Radical Brad
Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:33 pm
Forum: Hardware and Tech
Topic: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!
Replies: 168
Views: 59696

Re: VIC-2000 Expander. Modern Power Using Retro Parts!

Here is my work for the weekend (if time permits)... http://lucidscience.com/temp/v2k/V2K.SCH.FEB.02.jpg Sync Generator and Video Data Switcher Complete. http://lucidscience.com/temp/v2k/V2K.SCH.FEB.02.jpg I cleaned up a few mistakes in the two subsystems and placed them side by side. Color coding o...
by Radical Brad
Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:24 am
Forum: Emulation and Cross Development
Topic: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?
Replies: 12
Views: 6622

Re: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?

Thanks! I may need a bit of luck this weekend as I power up the new 25MHz SyncGen in hopes that the timing holds up. For sure it would hold up on a real PCB, but it is a goal to also make it work on the breadboard first. I have been over the timing "worst case" propagation delay numbers ma...
by Radical Brad
Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:05 am
Forum: Emulation and Cross Development
Topic: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?
Replies: 12
Views: 6622

Re: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?

Having a V2K mode in VICE would certainly be an achievement. I have a long way to go on that one! When I was digging deep into VICE dox, I seen your modified palette and VFLI extensions... very cool. Once I get through this initial video hardware development stage, I will take the time to study the ...
by Radical Brad
Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:03 am
Forum: Emulation and Cross Development
Topic: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?
Replies: 12
Views: 6622

Re: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?

I agree that VICE is the best Commodore emulator going by far, and highly accurate. Unless I dabble in crazy raster timed effects, I doubt i could "break" it. My hardware does do something that may not be achievable in VICE though. I realized what this was on the way to work this morning. ...
by Radical Brad
Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:28 pm
Forum: Emulation and Cross Development
Topic: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?
Replies: 12
Views: 6622

Re: VICE - Write to Cart Image Possible?

Thanks, I shall give it another try again at lunchtime. I was using VICE as a lunch hour pass-time at work, possibly to aid in development of my OS. The way I am working from home base makes it easy... Code using any assembler that can make a binary image. Save the image, and click on my converter p...