ITS (Infinity Tape Sd2iec)

tokra · Post by **tokra** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 3:50 pm

After seeing the advert and the videos on Manosoft's page I knew I had to get this item for my VIC-20s as an extension to the already existing SD-solution "C64SD v2.0 Infinity" - which is the best SD-option available in my opinion.

Anyway, with the VIC-20's commercial games being released almost either on cartdrige (which the MegaCart already covers) or on tape, of which most if not all can be found in the Gamebase20 the ITS-add-on is the ideal companion for the VIC.

I received the ITS-devices I ordered for both my PAL and NTSC-VIC in under a week from Italy to Germany. Connecting them to the C64SD was easy and without any soldering. The video-explanation helps a lot. Using .tap-files is pretty easy as well. Just go to the directoy where the .tap-file is located and then type

Code: Select all

open 1,8,15,"xt:tapefile.tap":close1

to mount a .tap-file as one would otherwise mount as disk. Once that is done the device will behave just a like a tape-drive. You even have a volume-knob to listen to the screeching sounds from the .tap-file.

I was able to load any .tap-file I tried with or without expansion. Granted I only tried a few, but copy-protection does not matter as well, since effectively you are playing the original tape.

Available at Manosoft's site also is a modified version of "File Browser" that can mount .tap-files more easily. For the VIC-20 you still have to mount this manually as noted above. Maybe it's possible to compile a modified VIC-20 version of the file browser as well or even include such a version in the next revision of the MegaCart.

I know this whole post sounds like one long commercial, but it's great to see such a versatile product which is clearly a work of love being released to the public - fully assembled no less. All thumbs up for that

orion70 · Post by **orion70** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 4:12 am

I was attracted by this ever since it was available, but had already purchased the (much cheaper) micro-IEC by Jim Brain. I wonder if the ITS module can be attached to a standard "naked" SD2IEC device - loading all the TAPs available would open a brand new world to my VIC

.

yellow_lantern · Post by **yellow_lantern** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:26 am

I thought I saw a short blurb that there was some kind of firmware trick that restricted it to Manosoft's device.

Still, if there is enough demand, someone else will make one - maybe even Jim Brain.

tokra · Post by **tokra** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:57 am

orion70: The ITS is specifically designed for the C64SD. You should just sell your micro-IEC and get the Infinity Pack ready to go for 95 EUR. This is a good one time investment, definitely worth it. Seeing as you are located in Italy same as the seller shipping should be reasonable for you as well.

orion70 · Post by **orion70** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:26 am

Thanks. If no one shows up with a similar device for the standard SD2IEC, I'll definitely be thinking about this change

Spectrum · Post by **Spectrum** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:39 am

I have the C64SD v2.0 Infinity and it excellently work. I will soon buy the ITS Module to load the .tap files. Orion, buy a good gift for your Vic...

It's an awesome product, really.

orion70 · Post by **orion70** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:10 pm

Don't know, apart from the fact that I already have a SD2IEC, the device seems to be a little thicker than the VIC case, which in my setup is inside a 1020...

brain · Post by **brain** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:36 pm

I'd be interested in adding the functionality, but is there any technical specifications? I would think there should be, as sd2iec is GPLv2, and I think SD2IEC (the hardware) is as well.

Any chance someone could help me get the technical details?

Jim

tokra · Post by **tokra** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:50 am

Maybe contact hawui1 who did the ITS-software and says it is GPL. See original thread on Forum64:

http://www.forum64.de/wbb3/board65-neue ... d2iec-yes/

nbla000 · Post by **nbla000** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:47 am

Hi guys,

I just want to inform you that i'm adding ITS support to my cbm-filebrowser, at the moment it is in beta but i'm able to load any tap file for c16, c128, c64 and vic-20+mega-cart, I'm working for other vic-20 configuration and I will publish the new version soon.

The new version will work with any sd2iec based device but taps works with c64sd infinity+ITS module only of course.

6502dude · Post by **6502dude** » Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:29 am

nbla000 wrote:....i'm adding ITS support to my cbm-filebrowser, at the moment it is in beta but i'm able to load any tap file for c16, c128, c64 and vic-20+mega-cart, I'm working for other vic-20 configuration and I will publish the new version soon.

Cool!!!

nbla000 · Post by **nbla000** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:35 pm

6502dude wrote:Cool!!!

Thanks, CBM-FileBrowser with TAP support just released, new Mega-Carts will include this version of course.

Post by **joshuadenmark** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:41 pm

Super, great work

Thanks!