ilike8bits

Why Reversible Mods are Good Mods

Recently I modded my Creativision to add composite video and audio. While I thought I had succeeded, after a while I noticed glitching and visual artefacts. By making my mod easily reversible, I was able to unsolder the added leads, reconnect the disconnected power lead to the RF Modulator, and it worked fine. I willContinue reading “Why Reversible Mods are Good Mods”

Creativision Works

So I have been working a lot on my Creativision, AKA the “Dick Smith Wizzard” (Or as my kids so rudely like to call it, Dad’s ‘Dick Wizzard’. Mutter mutter. Kids of today.) Considering this project started out a very long time ago as an attempt to resolve a longstanding MAME Testers bug, which hasContinue reading “Creativision Works”

Plugging away at some things

Hi Intarwubs, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m not dead, I just don’t have much exciting news. I do have some projects that are “in progress” but nothing finished. Projects I’ve been working on a GBS Control install, but it’s not working quite right yet. I am yet to determine why. I need toContinue reading “Plugging away at some things”

Fixing the NES

So, for quite a while, I’ve wanted to get my Nintendo Entertainment System up and running. There are a lot of classic games for this system, and while emulation is now practically perfect, I still like the feel of original hardware. Besides, I now had three non working units. By far and away the mostContinue reading “Fixing the NES”

The current Wish List

Here’s a list of all the things I “want”.This does not include my two systems stuck overseas. Thanks Covid. The Immediate Future These are the things I’m actively searching for to buy as they become available. I’m not going to go silly on them. (I’m looking at you, $1,000 Microbee!) Amstrad CPC 6128 or 464:Continue reading “The current Wish List”

Apple Addendum

Just a quick note that a very helpful fellow on the Apple IIoz mailing list pointed out that there are two variable resistors on the top of the PAL card that can be adjusted to tweak the video output. (Honestly, I mistook them for Foil Film Capacitors as they were blue blocks on the topContinue reading “Apple Addendum”

A light interlude of Yak Shaving

So here I am again, and yes, it’s been a while since I had any real progress with any retro projects. I’ve been working on the Commodore C128D and it now reads disks, which is good, but it doesn’t read them reliably, which is bad. I also don’t currently trust the unit, as some C128Continue reading “A light interlude of Yak Shaving”

Inputs and Outputs

So now I have a working Apple IIe, and an ability to put software on it, my mind turned to games, and more importantly, how to control games. You see, unlike almost everyone else, Apple had joysticks as an afterthought. (Apparently Woz wanted to play Pong). As a result, the Apple 2 supports one AnalogContinue reading “Inputs and Outputs”

Apples and Unicorns: A sudden rush of RetroComputing (Repost)

(Originally posted on LinkedIn Jun. 24, 2020) Retrocomputing is a funny hobby. When you’re dealing with computers that are 20+ years old, most things tend to plod along at a stately pace. Maybe a new upgrade here. Maybe a new purchase there… And then there are periods like that since my last post, where overContinue reading “Apples and Unicorns: A sudden rush of RetroComputing (Repost)”

Reocomputing: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (Repost)

(Originally posted on LinkedIn Jun. 15, 2020) Retrocomputing continues to help me find my happy places. I’ve been extensively working on new things. I recently rebuilt the area all my consoles live, to simplify things, going from having to use four different remotes in various combinations, down to two, one of which is only usedContinue reading “Reocomputing: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (Repost)”