exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

raspberrypioneer wrote: 26 Oct 2025 09:12

rubber_jonnie wrote: 19 Oct 2025 11:49 Glad to see you got over the line :)

It is a weird thing with these machines that flickering. I don't believe it's capacitors and my voltages are all good, but at least it's resolving quicker now.

I've fixed this 100% now! I replaced the ribbon cable connector on the power board. It seemed fine so I left it in place (did a half-job :( ). I also gave all the boards a thorough clean with IPA and reflowed a few connections which didn't look 'nice' (although were probably ok). On powering up, no flicker at all, the picture is perfect (composite perfect :lol: ). Really pleased with this now, next up a 3d print for the Pirto cart.

I also replaced the ribbon on mine, it was pretty terrible, but it didn't seem to help with the flickering issue.

rubber_jonnie wrote: 26 Oct 2025 14:40 I also replaced the ribbon on mine, it was pretty terrible, but it didn't seem to help with the flickering issue.

Is it the top line that flickers? I get that on the TV I used to use. Fine on the 'new' one - I guess yours is sorted with the Retrotink?

raspberrypioneer wrote: 27 Oct 2025 11:14

rubber_jonnie wrote: 26 Oct 2025 14:40 I also replaced the ribbon on mine, it was pretty terrible, but it didn't seem to help with the flickering issue.

Is it the top line that flickers? I get that on the TV I used to use. Fine on the 'new' one - I guess yours is sorted with the Retrotink?

So, I have stopped using it with a little 10" display as it always plays up with that, though my Colecovision is 100% perfect.

As it goes it is mostly fine with the Retrotink now IIRC and a TV rather than my bench display.

raspberrypioneer wrote: 21 Oct 2025 12:12
Ha, same as my daughter! It will be good to know how you get on - the Sonic the Hedgehog game uses extra memory / REU. An impressive game on the C64 if you've not tried it. I've played it using VICE / RetroPie, but not on my real C64.

I just tried Sonic on it, and it is impressive for sure, didn't even realise the C64 could emulate an REU until you mentioned it.

I also found this: Rad Expansion Unit which is a modern recreation and may be worth trying to build :)

rubber_jonnie wrote: 28 Oct 2025 18:35 I just tried Sonic on it, and it is impressive for sure, didn't even realise the C64 could emulate an REU until you mentioned it.

I also found this: Rad Expansion Unit which is a modern recreation and may be worth trying to build :)

I've never tried a REU on a real C64, I don't think I knew they existed until Sonic was released fairly recently :lol:

It looks an interesting project. Adds an extra 16mb too! Mind would have boggled as a kid - would probably have needed to look up what that was. Soldering the surface mounted components would be new territory for me. I'd probably need a better soldering setup, it's fiddly enough with regular components! :lol:

raspberrypioneer wrote: 29 Oct 2025 09:47

rubber_jonnie wrote: 28 Oct 2025 18:35 I just tried Sonic on it, and it is impressive for sure, didn't even realise the C64 could emulate an REU until you mentioned it.

I also found this: Rad Expansion Unit which is a modern recreation and may be worth trying to build :)

I've never tried a REU on a real C64, I don't think I knew they existed until Sonic was released fairly recently :lol:

It looks an interesting project. Adds an extra 16mb too! Mind would have boggled as a kid - would probably have needed to look up what that was. Soldering the surface mounted components would be new territory for me. I'd probably need a better soldering setup, it's fiddly enough with regular components! :lol:

I'm pretty good with tiny surface mount stuff, I could alway build a batch and sell you one 😁

The smallest I've done is 0402 on my v2 Analog for my Apple IIe. I have a better microscope now too😁

rubber_jonnie wrote: 29 Oct 2025 16:46 I'm pretty good with tiny surface mount stuff, I could alway build a batch and sell you one 😁

The smallest I've done is 0402 on my v2 Analog for my Apple IIe. I have a better microscope now too😁

Sounds like a microscope and surgeon-like hand movements are essential! :lol: Seen a few YT videos which make it look easy as they tend to.

Not sure I'd use a REU much beyond the occasional game of C64 Sonic the Hedgehog (used to own that game with a MegaDrive I used to have but annoyingly sold a long time ago :cry: ). There doesn't seem to be much which uses it, I guess it's a bit of a fringe item.

What do you think of your The C64 compared to the original?

PS. I see your emojis display properly?!

raspberrypioneer wrote: 30 Oct 2025 14:26 Sounds like a microscope and surgeon-like hand movements are essential! :lol: Seen a few YT videos which make it look easy as they tend to.

Yeah they certainly are. I have a better microscope since I built the Analog v2. Sneezing is not helpful when working with things that small either...

raspberrypioneer wrote: 30 Oct 2025 14:26 Not sure I'd use a REU much beyond the occasional game of C64 Sonic the Hedgehog (used to own that game with a MegaDrive I used to have but annoyingly sold a long time ago :cry: ). There doesn't seem to be much which uses it, I guess it's a bit of a fringe item.

Well i might build one for fun, see if I can get Sonic working on 'real' hardware, but other than that, yep it's a bit of a fringe item.

raspberrypioneer wrote: 30 Oct 2025 14:26 What do you think of your The C64 compared to the original?

PS. I see your emojis display properly?!

The keyboard isn't as nice, but overall it's OK and a nice option to have since it is easier to set up than the C64 and will work great with HDMI, not to mention it also works as a VIC-20 as well.

I've not generally had any issues with emojis.

Sorry about the delay in replying back. Work got a bit crazy for a time :?

rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Oct 2025 14:56 Yeah they certainly are. I have a better microscope since I built the Analog v2. Sneezing is not helpful when working with things that small either...

Yes sneezing and normal soldering is bad enough! :lol:

rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Oct 2025 14:56 Well i might build one for fun, see if I can get Sonic working on 'real' hardware, but other than that, yep it's a bit of a fringe item.

Just found, there's the Kung Fu Flash 2 which does REU emulation. Makes it tempting. I've not used KFF - feels like it will be duplicating what I've got to some extent with SD2IEC and Epyx Fastload. Spoilt for choice with the C64!

rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Oct 2025 14:56 The keyboard isn't as nice, but overall it's OK and a nice option to have since it is easier to set up than the C64 and will work great with HDMI, not to mention it also works as a VIC-20 as well.

Ah it works with the VIC-20 too, that's pretty cool. I guess it's easy to add new games for both platforms too.

raspberrypioneer wrote: 10 Nov 2025 13:20 Sorry about the delay in replying back. Work got a bit crazy for a time :?

No worries.

raspberrypioneer wrote: 10 Nov 2025 13:20 Yes sneezing and normal soldering is bad enough! :lol:

I can't recommend it...

raspberrypioneer wrote: 10 Nov 2025 13:20 Just found, there's the Kung Fu Flash 2 which does REU emulation. Makes it tempting. I've not used KFF - feels like it will be duplicating what I've got to some extent with SD2IEC and Epyx Fastload. Spoilt for choice with the C64!

Ahh, will need to take a look at that. I currently have a KFF 1, so probably won't upgrade.

raspberrypioneer wrote: 10 Nov 2025 13:20 Ah it works with the VIC-20 too, that's pretty cool. I guess it's easy to add new games for both platforms too.

Interesting. I have a Penultimate +2 cart for my VIC-20 and that's enough for me I think. How does it work on the VIC-20 though, the cart ports are very different.