The C64, returns.

Started by Steve Elliott, June 25, 2019, 23:14:30

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Steve Elliott

Quote
I think it would be about time that there was a dedicated section for old 8/16 bit programming.

Great idea!
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Qube

Quote from: Steve Elliott on February 20, 2020, 10:38:42
Quote
I think it would be about time that there was a dedicated section for old 8/16 bit programming.
Great idea!
I agree and it will be done. Sorry about the lack of forum admin recently from my side but I'm snowed under with real life coding work :( - Don't worry though as soon as I've hit the last key on the backlog coding shite I'll leap into action and be uber Qube once again :P
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Until the next time.

Steve Elliott

#168
Quote
I think it would be about time that there was a dedicated section for old 8/16 bit programming.

I agree and it will be done.

Excellent.   :D

Look what arrived today, the LumaFix64 (it improves C64 image quality).

While my tv picture is much better than this example, here's a review of what it does for image quality:  http://biosrhythm.com/?p=1340 

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Xerra

Decided to get the C64 up and running properly today. Stuck it into Vic 20 mode and got tinkering. Surprising all the old manual poke addresses I still remembered such as 36879 to change the colours.

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Steve Elliott

Yes the emulators really cover all the bases, so are great for testing...I just wish they could offer smooth scrolling though.
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dawlane

Here's another find on the net that maybe worth a look at for the C64.
https://codebase64.org/doku.php?id=base:sprites

Steve Elliott

Cool.  We really need to put this info into the new 8-bit page.
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Steve Elliott

#173
This guy seems to know his C64, Commodore 64 Assembly Language Programming of particular interest here.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gRBswFkuteshdwMZAQafQ
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Steve Elliott

Well I've been gradually increasing the amount of time I leave the old C64 on for.  A few days ago I came back to the computer to see 'Mayhem in Monsterland' exhibiting some worrying screen corruption in the top third of the screen (dark lines at first).  As I watched the scrolling it got worse as the top section of the scrolling background began to tear back n forth.  At this point I turned the computer off.  I tried it the next day and those dark lines within the top third are still present.

I know that replacing the capacitors can improve picture quality, but I'd hoped that I wouldn't have to do any repairs for a little while.  I don't yet even have a soldering iron so am not equiped to make any running repairs.  I'd seen C64's listed as 're-capped' but they cost more than I was willing to pay, because I knew I wanted to also buy a modern replacement power supply and floppy disk emulator drive (and those things weren't cheap).

So basically it's man down for now until I can get at least a soldering iron and new capacitors.  I don't have any spare cash at the moment so that will have to wait, a shame.   :(
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dawlane

When it's running, do the finger test on the IC's. If they are hot, then there is a chip failing.

Steve Elliott

#176
Quote
When it's running, do the finger test on the IC's. If they are hot, then there is a chip failing.

Thanks, I'll try that when I'm in a position to do some proper maintenance.

So I guess it's back to the emulator for now...
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Steve Elliott

Well we're all in lockdown and guess what?  The TV goes.  So I bring the TV that the C64 is using downstairs...And that quickly goes completely nuts.

So no TV what-so-ever!...On the (possible) plus side the trouble with the C64 picture could well have been a TV rather than computer problem.
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Derron

You meanwhile could try to stream the video streams of your beloved TV channels - most of them offer "live feeds". If uncomfortable, then install Kodi on a connected laptop / box and run some ipTV addons.


bye
Ron

Steve Elliott

Or just buy a new tv.   ;D
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