PhilCs blog / the latest things hes broken(fixed)

[JezC]

@PhilC Do you have a write-up on using the BluesSCSI boards with Ataris or Amigas?

I'm considering options for networking some of my retro machines but need the cart port free for dongles...

[mrbombermillzy]

I never even knew those Open 128 boards existed @PhilC .

I am doing very well resisting the temptation of getting a C128... well, until we get that 'other' project running properly, anyway!

[PhilC]

I never even knew those Open 128 boards existed @PhilC .

I am doing very well resisting the temptation of getting a C128... well, until we get that 'other' project running properly, anyway!

Maybe try one of these boards @mrbombermillzy? I have a couple of C128s that I picked up (non functional) and will transfer it all over to these new boards, as corrosion is a big thing with C128 boards.

[PhilC]

Done a bit more with the Open128 today, mainly to see what parts I need to order to complete it.

I’m fine for resistors and caps, the sockets are all on their way and I have all the logic chips I need to get it finished. Just a few inductors and a whole load of emi filter’s required and they ain’t cheap, so will likely pinch them from a donor board as well.

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[PhilC]

Done a little more to the Open128 board that’s now destined for the C128D. The sockets have arrived, some how the Chinese sender mixed up my order, so I now have 200 or so 14 pin sockets, 100 odd 8 pin sockets and 100 16 pin sockets. I’d actually only ordered 100 14 & 16 pin ones but not going to complain.

So whilst I wait for things like a few new logic chips and the suppressor caps for the keyboard and joysticks, I’ve decided I would add a few nice upgrades to the board.

So far it’s got an S-Video and stereo jack board fitted instead of the standard modulator, a modern 8701 clock chip replacement (the Tolb 1.2) and a ram replacement in the shape of a SaRuMan-128. This has meant I’ve not needed to spend the time fitting 16 sockets and decoupling caps just for the ram.

Once it’s all ready to go into the C128D it’s going to have stereo SID board fitted and a C128Lumafix. It’s already had the VDC ram upgrade fitted by fitting two 41464 ram chips instead of the 4416 standard ones.

Hopefully once all this is done it will mean so have a nice reliable C128D going forward (famous last words!)

Anyway , here’s the pics.

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[rubber_jonnie]

Looking interesting

[HigashiJun]

Love that purple !

[PhilC]

Love that purple !

Yes it’s great that they make PCBs in my favourite colour.

[PhilC]

Having a bit of a sort through some of my unfinished projects and here we have a C64 Breadbin motherboard. I’d recently replaced the ram and the 74LS257s and it now boots but I think maybe it’s got a bit confused colour wise

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Right, which bit do I desolder next?

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[PhilC]

So was it the Character Rom? Nope Was it the PLA? Actually partly, was it the Screen Ram? Nope, Was it U14 previously changed by someone else? Most definately. This was I believe a MOS 7709 (74LS258) 2 to 1 line data selector, so one of the lines wasn't swapping over, giving me garbled text on the screen but otherwise working.

The random colours were thanks to the failing PLA.