Notices by Bernie (codewiz@mstdn.io)

I'm in Sacramento for #AmiWest 2025, an #Amiga show running since 1998.

https://amiwest.net/schedule2025/
#retrocomputing #commodore #vintagecomputing

Where am I going?

Well, ultimately to Sacramento, but I'm intercepting a friend who's currently driving down from Santa Rosa.

We are crossing the Golden Gate! 🌉

Lorraine is on display at #AmiWest. It's the original 1984 prototype of the #Amiga, with the three custom chips implemented as breadboards. #vintagecomputing

The San Francisco MUNI logo is... I'm at a loss of words 🤪

Old Blue Workbench is an enhanced and actively developed Workbench replacement for classic Amigas running Kickstart 1.3. Yes, for real. :amiga:

https://triumph.no/oldblue/

#amiga #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing

The recently released gzip 1.14 can decompress data 40% faster on modern x86_64 processors (and 20% faster on older ones) by computing CRC32 more efficiently:
https://savannah.gnu.org/news/?id=10752

#GNU #Linux

Wait for 152 seconds - Transmission64 BASIC One-Liner Winner 2024 🏆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTqWw62zllY

@nickmofo , you'll probably like this #c64 #BASIC #oneliner
#programming #demoscene

Upgrading #UBoot on my 16-year old #PowerPC #Amiga...

https://www.acube-systems.biz/index.php?page=news&id=164
#retrocomputing #sam440

@jxself I can make it to PaCommEx, but only on Sunday.

@jxself Do you know if your C128 was fully restored? If not, I would offer to take a look at it.

So... where am I?

@maxheadroom Nein! I'm in Odaiba, Tokyo.

I detached the #Plus4 keyboard to test the power LED with a battery: it works.

I cleaned the contacts with isopropyl and plugged the flat cable back on the board and now... IT WORKS! 🎉

Was it just an oxidized contact? I'm not sure.

Anyway, the tuner video signal is very noisy. I wrote this short program to test sound output.

First time I play with the BASIC V3.5 multimedia commands, and it's awesome! :commodore:

#commodore #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing

@root42 Even these C64 -> Plus4 adapters cost a lot, like 15 EUR + shipping.

Ok ok, I guess spending 2 hours repairing a PSU would cost more, but... isn't it more fun? 😂

@root42 Aha!

By the way, I found schematics and service manuals for the Plus 4, but couldn't find gerbers or pictures to help follow traces on the board. Know where to look?

Last night I carefully opened the #Commodore wedge PSU with flat screwdrivers, but the interior is filled with a potting resin which is stuck to the box.

I measured +5V after the regulator, but it drops as soon as I connect the #Plus4 board.

If the board was shorted, the fuse would have blown. So I guess the regulator is unable to source more than a few milliamps.

I couldn't make further progress without tools. I'm literally working from my mother's kitchen! 🤓

#electronics #vintagecomputing

@root42 The CPU is indeed a 6501R1, with a conspicuous "OK" drawn on it in purple. How do they die?

Anyway, the PSU appears to be broken (I'll post more details on the main thread).

In spite of its excellent conditions, this #Plus4 does not power up at all 😭

The AC fuse in the PSU and the DC one on the motherboard aren't blown, so my next suspect is the "wedge" power-supply.

These PSUs made by #Commodore in the '80s are known to fail often. Sometimes, they even output higher voltages on the +5V line which powers ALL the chips on the board! 😱

But this isn't the case: the power LED is steady off, and I measured near 0 volts on VCC pins.

#electronics #vintagecomputing

Yesterday I received a donation of #Commodore hardware from a childhood friend, including this lightly used #Plus4 in its original box, with perfectly preserved manuals.

#vintagecomputing #retrocomputing