Using a quad-kernal mod for C64 character ROM?

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And sometimes geeks repair or build retro computers.

There are ways to replace the various ROMs on the C64, but the various ROM files aren’t all the same size, requiring various sized chips.

Today we look at using a ROM replacement made for larger ROMs such as Kernal and BASIC, on a smaller PROM such as the Character ROM.

2023/12/132023/11/13 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Mods, C64ROM, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: BYOC64, C64, C64C, Character ROM, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, Commodore alteration, EPROM, EPROM Programmer, kernal quattro, microchip, mod, modding, mods, programming, ROM, ROM replacement

Gamepad controller for ATARI VCS or Commodore 64

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And geeks play retro video games.

On retro computers.

And sometimes, their retro arcade style joysticks aren’t well suited for the side-scroller platform retro-game.

What is a geek to do then?

Today we look at making – or modding – a gamepad controller that works on the Commodore 64

2023/10/022023/09/06 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Mods, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Games, Geekyness, Retrocomputing, RetrogamingTags: Atari, Atari 2600, Atari VCS, BYO game controller, C64, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, Commodore alteration, controller, DIY, electronics, Game controller, gamepad, games, Geek, joystick, personalize your commodore, retrogaming, video games

IC Wing: a neat way for retro microchip modding

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And geeks often modernize or alter their retro-computers.

Sometimes this imply having to connect new hardware to already existing ones, without proper connectors, and hacking it’s way there.

Today we explore an easy way to add connectors to vintage CPUs and other chips.

2023/08/172023/08/11 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Mods, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: 100% Geek, BYOC64, C64, C64C, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, DIY, electronics, Geek, IC wing, IRQ mod, mod, modding, PCBway, project, retro, retro computer, retro computing, retrocomputer, retrocomputers

Stereo Commodore 64

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks

and geeks enjoy their old games and computers on modern equipment.

In the eighties, most television sets were mono. So gaming aparitus and computers of the time were also mono. But modern televisions are at least stereo, and often cinema-style ambiophonic…

The commodore 64 uses what was revolutionary at the time, the “Sound Interface Device” – SID chip, for short.

The SID chip is capable to play 3 different voices simultaneously, and add filtering to the audio output, which makes for a remarquable audio quality, much more advanced than most of what was avaiable at the time.

Only issue (for modern times) is that it has only one channel. Mono. non-stereo. Being that the audio quality is rather advanced, audio snippets have been extracted from games for years in “SID files” and enjoyed by geeks – in mono.

In addition to outputting audio from the computer, the SID chip’s analog inputs are used to control paddle inputs from the game port, which is used for some game or as a mouse pointing device.

Is there a way to get the Commodore 64 to output in stereo?

2023/07/242023/09/05 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Audiovideo, C64Mods, C64SID, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geek lounge, Geekyness, RetrocomputingTags: 100% Geek, Arm2SID, ArmSID, C64, C64C, CGSC, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, Commodore alteration, DIY, Electronic, electronics, Geek, Geekyness, HVSC, MixSID, mod, SID, Sid-Tuner, SidFX, Sound Interface Device, stereo, Stereoplayer, StereoSID, SwinSID, video games

Commodore 64 RF modulator for the 21st century

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks

and geeks like their vintage aparitus to work on their brand new TV. This is one of the unrationalities of geekdom.

When building a commodore 64 computer from scratch, geeks need to come up with a solution for the RF modulator.

Il old time, there was a modulator to push the video signal into RF-compatible format to be connected on the antenna jack of a television set in order to display video on the TV. This reality has changed now and no analog televisual signal is sent trough the airwaves anymore.

Modern TV generally lack the capability to accept the RF-modulated signal. In modern times, there are better ways to connect anything to a (modern) TV, including the Commodore 64.

In today’s article we will explore the possible RF-Modulator replacement to be installed on a Commodore 64 motherboard.

2023/07/172023/08/03 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Audiovideo, C64Mods, C64VIC, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: BYO, BYOC64, C64, c64 longboard, C64C, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, computer, DIY, electronics, games, Geek, retro computer, retro computing, retrocomputer, Retrocomputing, retrogaming, RF, RF modulator, RF modulator replacement, Television, TheRetroChannel, video games 2 Comments