RETRO Innovations – Page 5 – Classic Systems, Contemporary Gear

C=Key now Shipping

By popular demand, we’re now offering both kit and assembled versions of our C=Key Commodore Keyboard Dual Mode Interface. This unit supports using a PS/2 keyboard to a VIC-20,C64,C64C,C128,C128D,C128DCR, or SX64 machine in one configuration. It can also interface keyboards for those same machines to a PS/2-based PC (or USB PC via a PS/2 to USB adapter). We’ve held off for years in offering this product, because PS/2 keyboards are getting scarce and we are redesigning the unit to work with USB keyboards. That said, numerous enthusiasts convinced us there is enough interest to offer the product in the store. Unlike our other offerings, we’re still considering this a “project” rather than a complete product offering. If you are a tinkerer who doesn’t mind getting his/her hands dirty with microcontrollers, this might be of interest. However, if you’re a fan of plug and play and easy upgrades, we encourage you to wait until a USB version is available.

EasyFlash 3 Introduction

In late 2010, a group of folks suggested the need for a KERNAL replacement cartridge. This cartridge would allow those with socketed KERNAL ROMs to enjoy KERNAL upgrades like JiffyDOS and would also help KERNAL developers try out new ideas before committing them to EPROM. Due to the complexity of “replacing” a ROM inside a machine without physically removing it, a Commodore Bounty was created to encourage someone to develop the solution. Thomas Giesel took up the challenge, finding a novel solution to the complexity, and developing an economically viable solution. Along the way, Thomas merged in some additional features, and the result is EasyFlash 3.

EasyFlash 3 offers a number of features:

8 8kB slots for alternative KERNAL ROM images,
7 EasyFlash I cartridge image slots.
Support for the following cartridge formats

Normal 8k
Normal 16k
Ultimax
Ocean Type 1
EasyFlash
EasyFlash xbank
USB support (for transfer of data to/from PC/Mac/Linux
Field upgradeable firmware and hardware configuration
Ability to replace/add/remove images from the C64

EasyFlash will soon be available from RETRO Innovations and can be used on the C64, C64C, and SX64. C128/C128D use is not currently supported.

One Designer’s Trash, Another’s Treasure

PCB Earrings by "The Belle Rings ", modeled by Belinda "Belle" Brain

In hardware design, as with any endeavor, one strives to minimize errors. However, as with anything, some errors are more important to prevent or eliminate than others. When dealing with microcontroller-based projects, I concentrate on the printed circuit board and components. Software errors can be fixed after production, but once the hardware and PCB are produced, there are few opportunities for change.

Still, even with doublechecking the design and prototyping, an error crops up every so often. When that happens, I can’t bear to pitch the boards immediately, so I usually stuff them somewhere in the shop. You never know, they might have some use at some point.

I recently ran a tiny PCB with “gold immersion” plating, with black soldermask. Though it contained an error, the board proved visually striking. I showed them to my daughter, who enjoys pretty items, the smaller the better. She loves adding castoffs and “trash” items to her collection, and was understandably impressed by the “baby” circuit board. I told her she might find a use for them, at some point.

Less than a day later, she and her mother had determined the tiny PCBs might make unique jewelry items. After purchasing some earring hoops from a local shop, she and I created hoop earrings from the small circuit boards. We then created small storage cards for the jewelry, setting a price for the product, and dreaming up a name for her “business”. We informed her that once she meets expenses (the boards are free, since I’ve written them off as useless, but the hoops were purchased), the remaining sales income will be hers. I offered to promote them at the upcoming “World of Commodore” show and then list them in the online store for sale.

If you or someone you care for wants a unique single or set of earrings from “The Belle Rings”, look for them in the store shortly and enjoy!

X Pander-3 VIC Released to Production

The X Pander-3 VIC brings the ultimate in cartridge port expansion options to the Commodore VIC-20. The unit features 3 independently switched vertical ports and a companion horizontal port. Power, both I/O select lines, and all BLK and RAM select lines can be individually switched on or off, while the I/O select lines can be swapped on the second and third/fourth expansion slot. Units should be available for sale starting mid-January.

PS/2 Encoder Units Shipping!

Fully Assembled PS/2 Encoder with IDC Connector

Both complete and kit-based PS/2 Encoder units are now shipping in the RETRO Innovations store. We made some last minute firmware enhancements, and are shipping with an upgraded microcontroller, the Atmel ATMEGA168 (16kB of FLASH ROM, the current firmware needs only ~4kB).

The web site will shortly be updated with pinouts and configuration notes. Stay tuned!

New Connector in Stock!

Looking for 12/24 .156″ edge connectors for your Commodore user port project or a IEEE interface that will connect to the PET/CBM computer IEEE port? RETRO Innovations has sourced 2,000 units with pins that can be installed in a PCB or soldered to the edge of a PCB. These connectors do not have the mounting ears, to allow maximum flexibility for fit. They are in the store for purchase now!

23XX Adapter In Limited Production

Assuming it’s not obvious, let me assure readers that not all design ideas are original. In fact, RETRO Innovations welcomes customer-inspired products. Let me relate the story of one such idea.

The initial 2364 adapter design was trivial and joins the myriad of similar designs available online. Though it was an original design effort, I did check the design with existing online versions. Still, there is nothing particularly innovative about it.

The design, though, does assume the 2364 pinout is invariant, which turns out to not be correct. Not only can the 2364 appear in 28 pin variants, but even the 24 pin variant found on Commodore machines can occur in two different configurations. The more common variant sports a active low “select” line, while another version flips that to active high.

A customer discovered this alternate variant after purchasing an adapter. Ever the resourceful one, he wired an inverter onto the select line for correct operation but suggested a new product variant for other custmers.

Initially, I took the idea and implemented it by making the “select” line configurable. It’s a common trick to use an XOR gate to invert the state of a data line. Still, the resulting design felt lacking.

Along the way, another customer suggested a 2332 Adapter, which uses the same 24 pin footprint as the 2364, but can arrive in 4 configurations (2 select lines). Datasheets for the 2332 also showed the 2316, which supports 8 configurations via 3 select lines. Since these are less common ROMs, they don’t get much attention in the retro market. Nonetheless, I determined that a bit of rework would allow one adapter to support any variant of 2316 or 2332, and any 24 pin 2364 variant. As the revised 2364 design required a TTL IC for signal inversion (74HCT86 XOR gate), rework required finding a TTL IC that could optionally invert and combine up to 3 select lines.

As the picture suggests, the 74HCT138 supports the required function, and it often costs less than the ’86, making it a perfect choice. The cost, of course, if the need to “configure” the unit for a specific use. Solder pads must be connected according to a truth table to support a particular device. Yet, the adapter can be a time saver for those who need to quick swap out a dodgy 2316/32/64 with a known good EPROM with correct code.

Though this unit can be configured to support the common case (and can be soldered up without the TTL IC in this configuration), the regular 2364 Adapter supports the majority of common uses, so we’ll still offer the original design alongside this one.

PS2Encoder Available for Order

Just a quick note that I’ve received the first batch of PS2Encoder PCBs and have placed them in the store. Assembled units might take a few weeks, but kits should be available in a week, and PCBs are available now. The firmware might yet have a bug or two, so I encourage initial buyers to be somewhat technically savvy, in case reprogramming is needed.

Mini 1541

Rik Magers managed to stuff a uIEC into a tiny little enclosure that looks like a miniature CBM 1541 case. More details are available at his blog.

ECCC 2011 Recap

As usual, ECCC 2011 was both hectic and fun. It’s been a few days since the show, as it took a while to travel home and recover.

RETRO Innovations arrived Friday evening in time to unload equipment into the show hall and select a couple choice tables near power and good traffic areas. However, almost as soon as we finished, it was time to close the hall for the night. I gathered up a few items and set up in the Fairfield Hotel foyer to finish some soldering and check on email. When I left at 1AM (early, I know), the room was still full of Commodore folks.

Saturday started strong, with sales brisk until nearly noon. ZoomFloppies sold well, though uIEC/SD unit sales were nontrivial as well (typically, a large number of the same folks attend each year, so year over years sales of the same item tend to decrease after the first year). JiffyDOS ROM sets sold at a steady pace, as did IEC cables. By mid afternoon, sales had tapered off and I was able to present ZoomFLoppy at 4PM in the demo area without too much trouble. I drug in an 8050 drive to show off IEEE support, recently added to the ZF firmware, while showing the rest of the ZoomFloppy features.

In the evening, I worked with Leif Bloomquist on a long-in-development VIC-MIDI project. Having first collaborated with Leif on the project in early 2010, it’s been a long road getting to this point. But, Leif worked on the driver code in the evening and was able to coax correct operation out the circuit before nightfall. Hopefully, a finished design and a product offering will be available before the first show in 2012.

After the hall closed Saturday night, we once again gathered in the hotel foyer. I sat with Six and Elwix of Style to discuss some new hardware design ideas, but mainly just enjoyed the din of activity.

This year, the show opened again on Sunday, though I had already made alternate Sunday plans. Though I was in no hurry, packing went slower than expected since I had to pull items out a number of times to make last minute sales. I can’t complain about sales, though. By 1PM, I had stuffed everything back into containers and closed up shop.

Of course, no show would be complete unless purchases were made. While eyeing some individual 8″ floppy disks, I happened upon a VIC-1540 with an original DOS ROM. Those ended up in my possession (I already have a 1540, but I don’t have an original ROM). Anticipating purchases, I had left a bit of room for things like this and the 10 VIC expansion cases (Think VIC-1020, but minus the expansion PCB. They were used to lock down the VIC in an education setting) Leif brought to the show (I purchased them at WoC 2010, but was not in attendance). As well, I asked Six (Oliver Viebrooks) to bring an SX64 shipping box to that show I had stashed at his home years before. Finally, the shipping box would make it home.

Or not… At the end of the show, I ended up purchasing a Xerox Phaser 8400 Workgroup color printer (I’ve been looking for a color unit for invoice printing, but couldn’t justify the cost of a new color laser in lieu of the perfectly functioning LaserJet 5 currently in use). The price was too good to pass up, but the cargo area could not hold the printer, the products, the VIC cases, and the SX64 shipping box in addition to suitcases. So, the SX box went home to downstate IL with family. Maybe one day it’ll make it home. It’s been in IL, then in KY, and now somewhere else in IL.

To be truthful, I attend to see folks and share stories, not sell products. It was nice to catch up with folks from past events as well as meet people I’ve only known online. Still, it is nice to sell enough stuff to finance the trip.

Above all, I’m exceedingly grateful that Jason Compton underwrites the entire cost of the event, offering it for free to businesses and attendees alike. May it continue to be held for years to come. I’m also excited that the Vintage Computer Festival was held at the same time in the same building. Though I didn’t get to spend much time at their exhibits, the exhibits were well planned and very intriguing.