Hit the motherload... - comp.sys.cbm

Hi Everyone, I just got back from a Commodore sale. It seems that a local school was throwing out a bunch of Commodore 64's and some guy offered to sell them and donate the money back to the school. Great thing was, everything was $1. So, I picked up around 3 C-64's, 2 C-64c's (one dead and the keyboard doesn't quite work on the other). I also bought a couple 1541's and a 1541-II. Here's my questions: 1) I also picked up a Suncom Animation Station (Computer Design Pad & Graphics Program). It seems to plug into the joystick connector. Can this be used with any other programs, like maybe GEOS? Can this be converted to work with a PC or Mac? 2) As I mentioned, one of the C-64c's has a problem with the keyboard. Some keys don't work while others display a different character. Any suggestions? Also included were a bunch of spare chips so I'm hoping I can swap parts from these chips or maybe the dead C-64c. Thanks, Mike

MikeC <no@spam.com> writes: >1) I also picked up a Suncom Animation Station (Computer Design Pad & >Graphics Program). It seems to plug into the joystick connector. Can >this be used with any other programs, like maybe GEOS? Can this be >converted to work with a PC or Mac? IIRC, it operates and functions like a KoalaPad, so try GEOS' Koala driver and see if it works. >2) As I mentioned, one of the C-64c's has a problem with the keyboard. >Some keys don't work while others display a different character. Any >suggestions? Try swapping the CIAs and see if this alters symptoms. -- Cameron Kaiser * ckaiser@floodgap.com * posting with a Commodore 128 personal page: http://www.armory.com/%7Espectre/ ** Computer Workshops: games, productivity software and more for C64/128! ** ** http://www.armory.com/%7Espectre/cwi/ **

MikeC <no@spam.com> wrote in news:vm9bvervvelgbd@corp.supernews.com: > Hi Everyone, > > I just got back from a Commodore sale. It seems that a local school > was throwing out a bunch of Commodore 64's and some guy offered to > sell them and donate the money back to the school. > > Great thing was, everything was $1. So, I picked up around 3 C-64's, 2 > C-64c's (one dead and the keyboard doesn't quite work on the other). I > also bought a couple 1541's and a 1541-II. Cool. :-) > Here's my questions: > > 1) I also picked up a Suncom Animation Station (Computer Design Pad & > Graphics Program). It seems to plug into the joystick connector. Can > this be used with any other programs, like maybe GEOS? Can this be > converted to work with a PC or Mac? I see no problem. The pad is basically the same kind of thing as Koala Pad. I have the special version with the Koala Programmer software. (Forgot exactly the wording) but it was a special version. Now as for your question about converting to PC, um I don't see a whole lot of problem. I remember there is a version of Koala for PC as well. Now to make note to convert a C64 pad to PC will require a little bit of hardware. From my understanding, these devices may utilize the analog line. Typically this is 8 bit resolution so make sure you have an ADC on an adaptor board that plugs into your PC's Serial/Parallel or USB port. I doubt it is really complicated at all. You need to score up on the pinout documents of the C64 Joystick port but remember the C64 has a pin for analog signal. This is linked to an ADC that is integrated in the SID or VIC-II. So you can get by with just an ADC. (A simple 8 bit ADC will suffice) maybe 4 bit.) All you need is have the 9-pin ports on a plugin card. You can have that made for the PC if it isn't already existing somewhere. Just make sure you have the Analog feed linked to an ADC. The purpose of this, is to allow for directional control. > 2) As I mentioned, one of the C-64c's has a problem with the keyboard. > Some keys don't work while others display a different character. Any > suggestions? > > Also included were a bunch of spare chips so I'm hoping I can swap > parts from these chips or maybe the dead C-64c. Good idea. This may be the PLA or some other chip but do note that sometimes you may have this wierdness if a pad or some joysticked hooked up. You didn't have the pad hooked up when testing the keyboard ?

Hello Mike, On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 14:14:02 -0400, MikeC <no@spam.com> wrote: >2) As I mentioned, one of the C-64c's has a problem with the keyboard. >Some keys don't work while others display a different character. Any >suggestions? I would take Cameron's advice. The Complex Interface Adapter (CIA) at U1 is the one that talks to the keyboard. The CIA at U2 is the one that talks to the serial port, user port, etc. If your CIA's are not socketed you can always send it to me for repairs and socketing. I'm cheap... or free if you send another unit of the same type for spares. :) /*Raj*/

RajW <raj@intelc64.net> wrote in news:237amvg6i0rupvtj771ji4btk5i5uufa5v@ 4ax.com: > Hello Mike, > > I would take Cameron's advice. The Complex Interface Adapter (CIA) at > U1 is the one that talks to the keyboard. The CIA at U2 is the one > that talks to the serial port, user port, etc. > > If your CIA's are not socketed you can always send it to me for > repairs and socketing. I'm cheap... or free if you send another unit > of the same type for spares. :) > > /*Raj*/ > Also, you can give them sockets. Just need the right DIP sockets. I did that with my DOS ROMs on one of my C64. This can be also the case for the 40 pin DIP chips. Makes it nicer. If you by yourself 40pin ZIF DIPs then that be nice but there be a cost. Since no DIP extractor would be need in the future. Thinking about that for my 6502, hmmm..... :-) Now here is the friendly side of the Commodore community showing.

Hi Everyone, Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. BTW, I got everything for $1 each. I also got a Commodore 1084S-D2 monitor for $5! Good news... I got the keyboard working by just swapping it with another keyboard. So, I guess there was a problem with the actual keyboard and not the motherboard. When I cracked open the second C-64c, there was a standard C-64 motherboard in it rather than the "newer" C-64c motherboard. Even the LED cable was longer since a C-64 LED is on one side and the C-64c is on the other. So, I just swapped this dead motherboard with a functional one from another C-64. Now I got two fully-functional C-64c's I've noticed some strange problems with these two systems. For example, one of the programs that comes with the Animation Station is some trivia game. It seems to boot fine on the "real" C-64c but fails on other C-64c (I get a blinking cursor after the load.) Also related, when I do get this game booted on the "real" C-64c, it finishes loading as asks to plug the controller into port 1 and hit button 1. When I do, it doesn't seen to recognize that I'm hitting the button...even when pressing all the buttons. Funny thing is...when I boot the drawing program, the Animation Station buttons work fine. Strange... Also, when I have the Animation Station plugged into port 1 and I press the letter "L", a period and then L appear, like this: ".L" . There seems to be a little switch on Animation Statiob, that fixes this particular problem. Again, strange... All I need now is an X1541 cable! Can anyone in or near Toronto help? Mike

MikeC <no@spam.com> wrote in news:vmcaah62cgglbf@corp.supernews.com: > Hi Wildstar, > > Yes, you're right. I got it working with EA's Music Construction Kit, > which supports the Koala Pad. The accuracy isn't very good and it > tends to glitch quite a bit...maybe it's the Animation Station. Well, that's good. Next step is seeing how GEOS handles this. I swore I have one of those pads but I often you my Koala Pad. > Unforunately, I can't seem to find my GEOS disks! Damn...I found my > GEOS 128 disks but not my C-64 version! > > Ah...the memories, I remember after buying my C-64c, I sent away for > the GEOS upgraded. I think it came with GEOS 1.2 or something and I > sent away for 2.0. I think it was the first time I ever set away for > anything. > Yes I do have GEOS 2.0 but I will not reproduce it. If you need a fresh copy of GEOS 2.0, contact Maurice Randall. > Yes, as I mentioned in my other messages, having the Animation Station > plugged in causes some strange keyboard characters to appear but I got > everything working now...sort of..see my other message. Oh, ok. This is a normal C64 thing. Nothing wrong with the chips, I guess.

Hi Wildstar > Well, that's good. Next step is seeing how GEOS handles this. I swore I > have one of those pads but I often you my Koala Pad. Yeah, not a problem. I guess I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with all this equipment other than pulling up some of my old files and reliving my glory 8-bit days. > Yes I do have GEOS 2.0 but I will not reproduce it. If you need a fresh > copy of GEOS 2.0, contact Maurice Randall. Funny thing is, I actually found my original GEOS 2.0 manual with the plastic transparent grid thingy for geoPaint. Also, I found some d64 files with GEOS 64 v2.0 (sorry Maurice). I decided to fire it up via VICE and it works. I'm sure I'll find my original disks anyway. I know I still have them somewhere...I just have to dig them up. Another problem I just realized...where the heck am I going to find new 5.25" disks? Luckily, I found two still wrapped 10-pack boxes. I remember buying these 10 years ago for my Apple IIc specifically but never used. After they gone or used, I'm dead. There was this local computer store I use to buy them from. Since they were still in business, I called them up. The woman told me that they threw away literally hundreds of boxes of 5.25" disk because they just sat on the shelves for years with not one single sale. Darn! Oh well...I think my best bet is use software such as 1541 EMU, 64NET or 64Lan. Maybe I'll even resort to something like ide64! Mike

MikeC <no@spam.com> wrote in news:vmd736nfm0egba@corp.supernews.com: > Hi Wildstar > Yeah, not a problem. I guess I just have to figure out what I'm going > to do with all this equipment other than pulling up some of my old > files and reliving my glory 8-bit days. No problem. > Funny thing is, I actually found my original GEOS 2.0 manual with the > plastic transparent grid thingy for geoPaint. Also, I found some d64 > files with GEOS 64 v2.0 (sorry Maurice). I decided to fire it up via > VICE and it works. I'm sure I'll find my original disks anyway. I know > I still have them somewhere...I just have to dig them up. I guess he won't have a big problem. > Another problem I just realized...where the heck am I going to find > new 5.25" disks? Luckily, I found two still wrapped 10-pack boxes. I > remember buying these 10 years ago for my Apple IIc specifically but > never used. After they gone or used, I'm dead. Well, there are some around. Hey Maurice, how soon will you have the FD-2000 back into production. Anyway with an FD-2000, you can copy most of the software to. Some will be picky but if anyone can help him, please contact him. > There was this local computer store I use to buy them from. Since they > were still in business, I called them up. The woman told me that they > threw away literally hundreds of boxes of 5.25" disk because they just > sat on the shelves for years with not one single sale. Darn! > Oh well...I think my best bet is use software such as 1541 EMU, 64NET > or 64Lan. Maybe I'll even resort to something like ide64! Good idea. Get your hands on them. It is ok to make copies for yourself. This is what we been doing over the years. I still have my FD-2000 and am not giving up on it. My next step is porting over the PC-Floppy (5.25" High Density) over. So I can use those 1.2 MByte disk and maybe a 120 MB Colorado Tape drive. Stuff in my collection of computers and parts.