Stuff and Things.
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- Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Stuff and Things.
I'm sure that you can cram more machines in there somehow.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
- rubber_jonnie
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- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
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Re: Stuff and Things.
It's an almost daily struggle trying...stephen_usher wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 12:33 pm I'm sure that you can cram more machines in there somehow.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
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- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
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Re: Stuff and Things.
And it's been a bumper post day today:
The last few caps for the Saturn PSU, the Intellivision composite mod, the ULIfAC and a book by the nice Mr Zaks that I've wanted to add to the library for years!
The last few caps for the Saturn PSU, the Intellivision composite mod, the ULIfAC and a book by the nice Mr Zaks that I've wanted to add to the library for years!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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- Posts: 5004
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
- Location: Oxford, UK.
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.

Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
- rubber_jonnie
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- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
Well, I've managed to get the Intellivision composite adapter installed, but the video is very noisy. TBH it's just a dual amplifier that takes the modulator inputs and boosts them.
Tweaking the TV settings has improved things, and I know I shouldn't complain too much, since it's from 1979, and the picture on a CRT TV via modulator is pretty damn awful, so anything is an improvement, but I want to give it a better chance, so I'm going to swap the video and audio pickup cables for shielded so at least then I can say I did my best to make the mod work.
Tweaking the TV settings has improved things, and I know I shouldn't complain too much, since it's from 1979, and the picture on a CRT TV via modulator is pretty damn awful, so anything is an improvement, but I want to give it a better chance, so I'm going to swap the video and audio pickup cables for shielded so at least then I can say I did my best to make the mod work.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
And the results of the shielded cable are in - It's way better, still not perfect, but I can live with it now:
Here's Zaxxon:
And I received this in the post just now:
Which also looks good:
So overall pleased with the result. Note some interference on the pics is a side effect of taking pics of the screen, and on screen dithering, it looks better in person.
I need to look for an SD card solution next I think.
Here's Zaxxon:
And I received this in the post just now:
Which also looks good:
So overall pleased with the result. Note some interference on the pics is a side effect of taking pics of the screen, and on screen dithering, it looks better in person.
I need to look for an SD card solution next I think.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
Hmm, seems to be glitches are us this morning...
First my Apple IIe wouldn't beep/power on - dirty contacts on the FDD controller, so fine now.
Next, my Saturn is no longer reading disks, burned ISOs or genuine games. This is upsetting as it is one of my favourite consoles, so time to think Fenrir, but at least see if I can get it running for now by adjusting the CD drive.
I think it's unrelated to the recap, as it was starting to get flaky before that.
Then last, my work laptop won't power on. Worked fine all week to this point. Meh! Luckily after holding down the power button for 20s it started working, but why? Luckily I'm due to have it replaced soon, let's hope it doesn't become an issue in the meantime.
First my Apple IIe wouldn't beep/power on - dirty contacts on the FDD controller, so fine now.
Next, my Saturn is no longer reading disks, burned ISOs or genuine games. This is upsetting as it is one of my favourite consoles, so time to think Fenrir, but at least see if I can get it running for now by adjusting the CD drive.
I think it's unrelated to the recap, as it was starting to get flaky before that.
Then last, my work laptop won't power on. Worked fine all week to this point. Meh! Luckily after holding down the power button for 20s it started working, but why? Luckily I'm due to have it replaced soon, let's hope it doesn't become an issue in the meantime.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
At least some more intellivision pickups arrived today:
Will test them out later
Will test them out later

Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
This looks appealing: PiStorm Lite
I'm not a big A1200 user, and the accelerator I have installed is problematic in that in memory certain configurations blocks the PCMCIA ports, and I'm thinking this is a relatively inexpensive and flexible option to replace it.
Anybody tried it?
I'm not a big A1200 user, and the accelerator I have installed is problematic in that in memory certain configurations blocks the PCMCIA ports, and I'm thinking this is a relatively inexpensive and flexible option to replace it.
Anybody tried it?
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9589
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
So, I've notice that the image quality on the Intellivision starts off bad, and after about 30 minutes seems to slowly improve, so I sense another console re-cap coming.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...