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What is this adapter for?
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:27 am
by Vic20-Ian
Does anyone know what this adapter would be useful for?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COMMODOR-64-V ... SwZQRYgZd1
Thanks
Vic20-Ian
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:18 am
by tonyrocks
hmm...looks like and adapter extender...seems odd. You could plug in an edge connector, and then to a breadboard to do some interface projects like voice synthesisers, photo resistors, etc...
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:35 am
by eslapion
This adapter I can only call total wishful thinking.
It seems to directly adapt the VIC-20 cartridge port to a C64/C128 cartridge but some of the functions on the VIC-20 cart port aren't the same at all on the C64 so this can't possibly work "directly" like that. Even the C64's two +5V lines have been forwarded directly but the VIC-20 only has one such line.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 9:13 am
by Vic20-Ian
Thanks to you both.
I wondered if it was to try and read a C64 cart into a Vic20 for dumping or if it was to allow a C64 style small prototyping cart or similar to be used on a Vic20 when Vic20 parts were becoming unavailable.
At least I am not the only one scratching my head at this one.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:41 am
by tokra
I think it is supposed to work like this project:
http://www.go4retro.com/projects/converter/
However, as far as I can see, Jim never finished this one.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:50 am
by dragos
For whatever cart that was supposed to accompany it certainly could work and there would be no "wishful thinking" involved.
The speakeasy cart for the Vic had a c64 cart port adaptor available and it worked just fine, no Djinns required..
http://www.geocities.ws/cbm/img/Commodore_Voice_001.JPG
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 2:54 am
by Vic20-Ian
Tokra, Dragos,
thank you both for sharing those examples.
It looks like there could be some hardware cartridges that would work both on C64 and Vic20 with a simple adapter.
If anyone has any more examples please post them here.
Thank you.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:58 am
by Mayhem
That's the first and only thing I could think of, considering it says 1985 on the board. Something to allow you to use a C64 board on the Vic20.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 6:03 am
by srowe
Googling "Simple Interface System" leads me to this on page 33 of Compute! March 1986
The low cost of Commodore home computers prompted designers at Proteus Electronics, Inc., to develop the Simple Interface Data Acquisition System (ADAC) for the Commodore 64, 128, and VIC-20. The system consists of an interface ($34.95) and an analog data acquisition conditioner ($64.95). The system can digitize up to 16 channels of analog signals, making it appropriate for functions such as heating, cooling, solar control, voltage measurements, robotics, and weather station monitoring.
There's no pictures but my hunch is this board allows you to hook up the interface board (which uses the C64 cartridge slot) to the VIC-20.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 8:17 am
by Vic20-Ian
Thank you. I googled the part number but had not found that information.
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:37 am
by eslapion
dragos wrote:For whatever cart that was supposed to accompany it certainly could work and there would be no "wishful thinking" involved.
The speakeasy cart for the Vic had a c64 cart port adaptor available and it worked just fine, no Djinns required..
http://www.geocities.ws/cbm/img/Commodore_Voice_001.JPG
I have 2 very serious objections to your claim.
1. Not all lines are connected on the Speakeasy cart port adapter and not all lines connected go exactly to the same pin on the VIC-20 vs C64 side - that's why IT can work.
2. The adapter on the eBay auction even has the 5V lines connected to 2 adjacent pins on the VIC-20 side which is a total NO NO !
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:50 pm
by sjgray
Actually, Jim had a few of these at a WOC show a few years back. I was able to pick one up.
Steve
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:15 pm
by dragos
eslapion wrote:dragos wrote:For whatever cart that was supposed to accompany it certainly could work and there would be no "wishful thinking" involved.
The speakeasy cart for the Vic had a c64 cart port adaptor available and it worked just fine, no Djinns required..
http://www.geocities.ws/cbm/img/Commodore_Voice_001.JPG
I have 2 very serious objections to your claim.
1. Not all lines are connected on the Speakeasy cart port adapter and not all lines connected go exactly to the same pin on the VIC-20 vs C64 side.
2. The adapter on the eBay auction even has the 5V lines connected to 2 adjacent pins on the VIC-20 side which is a total NO NO !
You can object all you like, the fact remains it not only is possible for adapters to work on certain cartridges, it was a reality that I have provided documentation for. Furthermore, Jim Brains Masquerade adapter is configurable and I'll take my advice from him on this....
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:07 pm
by eslapion
dragos wrote:You can object all you like, the fact remains it not only is possible for adapters to work on certain cartridges, it was a reality that I have provided documentation for. Furthermore, Jim Brains Masquerade adapter is configurable and I'll take my advice from him on this....
On the Masquerade adapter too, not all lines go through directly from the VIC-20 to the C64 side and the +5Vdc is connected properly, 2 lines on the C64 and only one on the VIC-20. It's designed in a way that actually makes sense, not so with the adapter on the OP.
See
http://jbrain.com/vicug/gallery/convert/MasC_uerade_PCB
Re: What is this adapter for?
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:03 pm
by brain
Actually, I produced the MasC=uerade, and they are sitting here, but I never put them in the store. If there is interest and sanity (I never put them in the store because I was deathly afraid people would buy one and a EF3 and then yell at me that they could not replace their VIC-KERNAL with the unit), I will put them in the store.
Jim
