Re: Schematic for 80 Column Adapter for C64

From: Wayne Sander <wayne_at_sander.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2013 16:16:46 -0700
Message-Id: <080B3220-7AA3-4FFB-92D7-681177043D85@sander.com>
Okay, that was meant for Bil.  But you since I sent to all of you, any ideas (maybe I did subconsciously)?


On Aug 18, 2013, at 4:14 PM, Wayne Sander <wayne@sander.com> wrote:

> Hi Bil,
> 
> We've never spoken (written) before, but I'm hoping you might be able to help, or might have some advice.  Or maybe you could just provide moral support and tell me I'm not crazy.  Anything would be nice, I'm out on a limb and no one really wants to help.  So here's a little story, if you don't mind following along (I hope you don't).
> 
> About 6 months ago, I acquired a Revision 2A C65 that is missing the VIC-III chip.  I realize this was a product that Commodore was working on after you left, but I'm kind of running out of directions.  I contacted Fred Bowen shortly after I bought it, and he said he might have a few tubes of chips stashed away somewhere, and he sent me a photograph of the Revision 2B schematics.  I've tried writing him back, but it's been 6 months and he doesn't return any of my emails.  I also contacted Bill Gardei and he told me a few interesting stories, but he pretty much said that I was wasting my time and that he didn't have anything to tell me because he was far more interested in model trains and ham radio these days.  He said he threw away anything Commodore related a few years ago, including his revision 1 C65.  I got the impression that I was stirring up some bad memories.  He did say that he still has the magnetic tapes with the designs for the 4510 processor, but our email conversation kind of degraded when I told him that his C65 would have been worth a small fortune, and I didn't think he would give them up.
> 
> Since the C65 can boot up in C64 mode (or so I've been told), I thought about retrofitting a VIC-II chip.  Considering that I have a Rev 2A computer, but had Rev 2B schematics, and there are different flavors of VIC-III chips, I really needed to get some more information.  C65 owners are a strange group, they like to show off their toys, but they do not share information.  I found plenty of photos on the internet from just far enough away to have no value.  I decided to take matters into my own hands and I completely disassembled my computer.  I read all the resistor color codes and capacitor markings under a microscope, I scanned both sides of my bare board at 600 dpi, I traced the board using Osmond PCB (I have a Mac), spent weeks locating parts and revising my drawings, ordered boards and… well…  here's the first three…
> 
> <Photo08181459.jpeg>
> 
> They fit perfectly inside my C65's case, they are near perfect clones of my Revision 2A board.  I purposely used a slightly different font and altered the wording so any serious collector could easily tell the difference.  Plus a few of the connectors (power, audio, monitor) have a slightly different footprint on the PCB.  I have built seven so far, I have parts for about three more.  I'm still missing the cartridge connector, it's the same 50pin connector used on the C16 and Plus/4 computers.  I have searched the entire planet and can't find anyone who makes them.  I did find an ex-Commodore repair person in Germany who has a stash of old dead C16 and C116 boards with the connector and we're trying to work out a deal.  I think he's my best hope for this batch.  If you have any leads on this connector, I would really appreciate it.  I had to fabricate the power filter on my own, NEC wanted a minimum purchase of 2560 units.
> 
> So what was originally a pursuit to get accurate schematics of my machine has sort of morphed into something else.  I would really like to bring this computer into the hands of the public.  It's such a cool machine and it really deserves a chance to see the light of day.  So now I have a new problem, I now am short 11 VIC-III chips, 10 4510 chips, 10 DMAgic chips, 10 FDC011B (or C) chips and 10 Elmer chips.  Elmer is a PAL16L8BCN.  I do have new PAL16L8BCN's to fit into the sockets, but they need to be programmed first.
> 
> But Elmer is sort of the least of my concerns at this point.  I have no idea where I'm going to get the other chips.  Bill Gardei told me in one of his emails that FPGA was the only way to go these days.  But I'm way in over my head at this point.  I mean, I'm handy with a soldering iron, but I've never worked with FPGA's before.  I wouldn't even know where to start.  Besides people who are into these older machines really seem to want the old hardware and not a modern simulation.  I'm also working on reproducing the case and keyboard, and finding the right floppy drive to fit inside.  I would like them to be complete working replicas.  It's getting harder to find the right parts these days, but a good many of them are still out there.  Ultimately, I would like to produce between 500 and 1000 computers if there is enough interest.  I might have to do a slight design change and use one of the SD card floppy emulators if I make that many, but I think the 8-bit community would forgive me for that.  I'm running out of cash so I might put a bare board or two on eBay in a few weeks to raise money.  Hopefully some collectors will be interested.  I should have cases and keyboards in a few more months.
> 
> So I guess what I'm writing to you about is this - Do you know of any designs or drawings or notes on napkins or bathroom walls about the C65 or it's chips?  Do you know where I can get 50 pin cartridge connectors and C64 style power switches in quantity?  Do you know of any foundries that produce small batches of chips?  Or is FPGA really the way to go?  Anything you have I would greatly appreciate (even if it's just your moral support).
> 
> Thank you,
> Wayne Sander
> 
> 
> 
> Hopefully this email hasn't overwhelmed you, and I'm hoping you'll write back.
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 17, 2013, at 3:58 PM, Bil Herd <bherd@mercury-cg.com> wrote:
> 
>> Some schematics for some odds and ends, more coming.
>> http://c128.com/commodore-c64-80-column-adapter
>> 
>>       Message was sent through the cbm-hackers mailing list
> 



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Received on 2013-08-19 00:00:08

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