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Aquarius add ons

Any 8bit repairs, images, cool things, upgrades etc.
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rubber_jonnie
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Aquarius add ons

Post by rubber_jonnie »

I've been trawling around the interweb to see what other additions I can find to improve my own machine.

I found this site: Modding the Aquarius, though I have to say things over there are a bit expensive, though given it wasn't a popular machine I suppose that prices are high due to low volumes.

However, I did also look at the section on the composite mod DIY edition and as a result have ordered the PCB from PCBWay :)

The minimum order is 5 PCBs, and since I need only the one, I will likely have 4 spares, so if there is anybody who is interested in a PCB to convert their own Aquarius to composite is well, just PM me and it will be first come first served, all for the low low price of free.

Be aware they may not be here for a little while as I only ordered them this morning.

:)
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...
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stephen_usher
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by stephen_usher »

Contact Binary Dinosaurs (@BinaryDinosaurs) on Twitter, he'll know Aquarius (& Aquarius II) owners/enthusiasts who may like PCBs.
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.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:25 am Contact Binary Dinosaurs (@BinaryDinosaurs) on Twitter, he'll know Aquarius (& Aquarius II) owners/enthusiasts who may like PCBs.
I have a funny feeling that he's the guy who was at the Museum of Computing History for the show :)
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...
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stephen_usher
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by stephen_usher »

Yeah, he's one of the mainstays of that.
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.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Well, the parts arrived yesterday and I built up the comp mod board and installed it into the Aquarius:

PXL_20221028_120526211.jpg
PXL_20221028_120526211.jpg (328.11 KiB) Viewed 1606 times

It's very well designed in that it perfectly fits in the spot where the modulator was. Apologies for the green hook up wire, but I wanted to test and the cable won't be here until this evening, so I lashed up a test rig.


The picture on this particular monitor isn't great (All composite is a bit fuzzy on this) but sufficient to see it's working just fine :)

PXL_20221028_120535328.jpg
PXL_20221028_120535328.jpg (288.44 KiB) Viewed 1606 times

Good result :)
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...
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by stephen_usher »

:dualthumbup:
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.
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PhilC
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by PhilC »

looks like a simple mod to do as well, that's great.

I use one of these for my composite needs to adapt it to my 15khz capable VGA monitor. It does SVideo as well.

If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Aquarius add ons

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 2:04 pm looks like a simple mod to do as well, that's great.

I use one of these for my composite needs to adapt it to my 15khz capable VGA monitor. It does SVideo as well.

Yes, it's nice and neat and easy to build.

I have a TV and use a Retrotink to convert to HDMI. I do have something similar to that item you posted though.
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...
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