Commodore 64 Diagnostic harness

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

And Geeks often build their own geeky tools.

One of the most powerful hardware debugging tool for a non fully functional commodore 64 is the C-64 Diagnostic Assembly Kit (CBM 326070-01) – this software is powerful because it pokes at hardware using a test harness.

Today’s article will discuss how to come up with a hardware test harness solution for that Diagnostic cartridge.

2023/06/122023/10/03 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Diag, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: build your own computer, building, C64, C64C, cartridge, commodore, Commodore 64, computer, datasette, debugging, design, Diagnostic, diagnostic harness, DIY, electronics, engineering, EPROM, expansion, expansion port, fix, game port, Geek, hardware, Harness, Kernal, Kernel, led, memory, microchip, Peter Schepers, planning, port, repair, Retrocomputing, retrogaming, ROM, soldering, Sven Petersen, test, testing, testing rig, tool, tools, user port 5 Comments

Hardware conversion from Tuya-compatible controller to Tasmota or WLED

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

Geeks ofthen like/use/install/program home automation.

But they don’t like to have their devices connected to someone else’s cloud.

Unclouding smart devices isn’t a new concept. But what’s new is that Tuya moved out of the ESP8266 microcontroller in favor of their own proprietary WiFi-enabled microcontroller.

What to do when purchasing such Tuya-enabled non-tasmotizable device is the topic of today’s article.

2023/06/082023/07/23 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Computers and technology, Geek lounge, Geekyness, Home Automation, HomeAssistant, ProjectsTags: Athom, CBU, connectors, controller, convert, Electronic, electronics, ESP8266, hardware, Home Assistant, IoT, led, microcontroller, Neopixel, rehost, RGB, silicon, solcering, Tasmota, W8212b, WLED

Altering Commodore’s Kernal

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

And geeks enjoy their retrogaming.

Sometimes this means building their own computer.

The Kernal, Commodore’s Kernel ROM, has apparently been named Kernal after one of the engineers made a typo on the Kernel name, and all of Commodore Business Machine ran with it, naming it Kernal even in documentations.

Talk about owning their mistakes!

The Kernal is in charge of operating the various aspects of the computer – it is similar to the operating system of modern computing, but is on a chip, on the motherboard. It has routines for loading, displaying and pretty much everything.

And, similarly to today’s OS alterations and mods, Commodore’s Kernal can be modified.

2023/05/292023/07/27 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Mods, C64ROM, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: alteration, assembly, BASIC, build your own, build your own computer, BYO, C64, C64C, commodore, Commodore 64, computer, computers, DIY, electronics, EPROM, games, Geek, hardware, hardware alteration, I adore my 64, instructions, Kernal, Kernel, machine language, microchip, mod, mods, operating system, OS, personalize, personalize your 64, personalize your commodore, programming, retro, retro computer, retro computing, retro gaming, retrocomputer, Retrocomputing, retrogaming, ROM, video games, wereallgeeks 1 Comment