I Turned A Raspberry Pi Into A Commodore 1541 Disk Drive ...

Рет қаралды 15,936

Күн бұрын

Here we go with another Doom-It-Yourself project by your host NCommander where we build a Pi1541 (cbm-pi1541.firebaseapp.com/) for my Commodore 128. This entire project got started because I had a desire to explore Magic Desk I for the Commodore 64, I quickly discovered that my SD2IEC was not up to the task of running some really bad software. This was a problem because I don't have any real Commodore disk drives on hand. However, Steve White has created an cycle accurate Commodore 1541 disk emulator out of a Raspberry Pi 3+. This means its possible to accurately emulate the behavior of a Commodore disk drive, and for those who have the (mis)fortunate to own a Commodore 128, its one of our few modern disk emulation solutions.
My socials:
Patreon: / ncommander
Twitter: / fossfirefighter
Discord: / discord
Blog: casadevall.pro
Interesting Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:08 - Pi1541 Overview
01:40 - Soldering the Pi1541
04:08 - Smoketesting the build
05:00 - LCD Troubleshooting
06:30 - Smoketesting 2.0
08:00 - Retrotink Problems
10:52 - Initial Successes
12:00 - Further Pi1541 Testing
13:00 - The 1541 As Compared to Amtrak
13:58 - 1571 Disk Drive and Acela
15:40 - The 1581 and NJTransit
16:30 - GEOS128
17:02 - CP/M Problems
18:21 - CP/M and the 1541
20:20 - Final Thoughts and Conclusions
I picked up this Pi1541 quite awhile ago as an attempt to learn more about doing electronics projects, and since I finally had reason to build it, I started documenting the process for a simple Patreon perk. However, what was supposed to be a simple project quickly spiraled as I ended up exploring the horrors that is the C1541 disk drive, exploring the 1581 emulation, and then taking a journey discussing fast loaders. While doing so, I ended up comparing Commodore disk drives to the American rail system, which turned out to be a far more fitting compassion than I could have imagined.
In short, the 1541 is Amtrak, the 1571 is Acela, and the 1581 is an on-time NJTransit train (which may be the only search result for that term; I do wonder if anyone might find that here in the description. Let me know in the comments below!).
After getting past the strangeness of that comparison, I took a dive into some Commodore 128 native mode software, and gave it a quick test with GEOS for the C128, and then trying CP/M. CP/M for Commodore machines ranges from bad to flat out awful, and the C128's CP/M is not an exception that rule to say the least.
I found that CP/M on the Pi1541 didn't work at all with the 1581 D81 emulation, but it could be made to work with 1541. Not that you should ever attempt to do so, but it does work. Slowly and painfully.
After that little adventure, I determined that while the Pi1541 is a great add-on for a real C64 (and probably a Commodore 16/Plus4), it leaves something to be desired for the 128 due to the lack of burst mode and more. Still, the author has promised to make it better so it will hopefully get better over time.
It should be noted that the Pi1541 only works with the Raspberry Pi, but this is a great project if you want to get your feet wet with a vintage computing project that's relatively easy to build.
Music used under license from Epidemic Sound.
#Commodore64 #Pi1541 #NJTransit #Commodore128 #CBM

Пікірлер: 45

@adamsfusion 3 жыл бұрын

RE: The washing thing. It's normal in production when stuffing boards to finish with a soapy wash or an ultrasonic cleaner. That sticker keeps the water from getting in, as the water in both cases can cause corrosion to internal piezo components and the ultrasonic cleaner can destroy the internals if water seeps in.

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

Today I learned, but I still fair to think its a weird sticker :)

@DeathCubeKX 3 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Some PCAs might need to be washed in some manner after assembly to clean away flux or other potentially conductive impurities on the board and of course some components may need to indicate that they may need protection to the assemblers or cleaners.

@SoulcatcherLucario 3 жыл бұрын

I loved how you compared it to the rail systems in the US. I completely forget they existed tbh

@stephenwhite506 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, sorry, am still working on 1571 and burst mode for the few people that want it.I have it mostly working but still trying to debug a CPM issue that occurs millions of cycles into the boot process. It is a massive amount of work that I'm doing for free. The 128 scene is very small and the CPM scene even smaller, so sometimes I think that it is just not worth the effort. I have new projects I'm working on like a SuperCPU clone. Love the channel, keep up the good work!

@RandomBitzzz 2 жыл бұрын

Stephen - I'd love burst mode. I wish the 128 would have done better back in the day. I'm still working on getting a pi1541 doing. I was wondering, can you recommend someone that sells the pi hat already built (or as a kit) and is ethical enough to send a few bucks your way for each unit they ship? If you'd rather not answer publicly I'll find another way to reach out.

@Mattstech12 3 жыл бұрын

The rail analogy was accurate. Loved the "on time" NJ Transit comment too. So true!

@negirno 2 жыл бұрын

And the 6502 on the NJ train is funny!

@TheMightyOmega-NotTheAlpha 3 жыл бұрын

NJ Transit on time! I commuted on NJ Transit every stinking work day for 10 miserable years, and I can count on time arrivals on one hand!

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

See, I knew that would work for finding others from New Jersey. I just need to shout "NJTransit sucks" in a crowded room, and those who agree are from NJ!

@TheMightyOmega-NotTheAlpha 3 жыл бұрын

@@NCommander I grew up in Elizabeth, I have strong opinions on NJ Transit, and the trauma hasn’t healed despite the fact I haven’t lived in NJ for 15 years.🤪

@dungeonseeker3087 3 жыл бұрын

At this point you don't need us and livestreams to make you suffer, you're doing a good job of that on your own 🤣🤣

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

It's more I like to entertain people through my suffering :) I'm going to suffer regardless, I might as well make others happy.

@EmberwolfXR Жыл бұрын

Just found your Channel about a week ago and I've been binge-watching ever since thank you man you're awesome

@SobieRobie 2 жыл бұрын

Really unique content. Thank you!

@ClearComplexity 2 жыл бұрын

Burst mode worked fine in my experience, the bigger thing missed here is the C128 itself was a flop in terms of C128 specific software/use cases. The Amiga had come out around the same time and was the logical upgrade for people requiring similar or better hardware capabilities (if not going PC). The only draw of the C128 was the C64 mode giving backwards compatibility. The Z80 processor shifted duties to use C64 hardware leading to the exact same hardware limitations (hints lack of burst mode). The same limitations hardware/kernel wise that stopped bread bins, C-64C, etc were going to plague, well, the the same hardware and kernel/firmware found in C64 mode C128s. The result of software houses wanting to reach the larger audience was basically all software was still made with the 64 in mind and so most people never used the 128 outside of the 64 mode. There's also the part where the C128's graphics chip was absolute dog; it had potential, but the hoops and limitations you had to jump through were not worth the handful of people that may see the results outside of a demo convention.

@BrainSlugs83 2 жыл бұрын

Re: "remove after washing". You're supposed to clean your solder joints with Isopropyl Alcohol to remove the Flux.

@guxtavo14 2 жыл бұрын

3:23 nice word playing

@stinchjack 2 жыл бұрын

11:16 NCommander does an Adrian Black impression !

@_GhostMiner Жыл бұрын

13:00 I understood everything because I was The 8 bit guy. 😃

@tech34756 3 жыл бұрын

I thought about getting one of these, but then decided it may be better long term to just get the Ultimate ii+, considering it can handle tape, cart, ram expansion, network, printer, etc. Although it may be lacking for you for C128 drive stuff. Edit: Oh and if you want to feel better, whoever assembled my C64 composite cable used red (i.e. right audio) for the video output. I only found this after getting an oscilloscope out, probing the DIN socket and seeing it was indeed producing video. This was a replacement cable, so now I don’t know if I had wasted money on a cable I didn’t need. The original was from an MD/Gen model 1, so I figured it was just incompatible but now I’m wondering if it was sending video on the other connection.

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

You could realistically make the minimalist Pi1541 for about $10 bucks plus the Pi. I just went with the more fancy deluxe version. I didn't menthon it on this video, but my first set of Commodore video cables managed to leave Lumia missing, and cross connected Chroma and Composite. Surprisingly, a 1702 *will* sync to that on the chroma/luma input, but the retrotink won't. I had to order another set of cables, and then make an adapter to wire it to S-Video. (C64/128 DINs have four signals, composite, mono sound from the SID, chroma, luma, so four plugs is expected) As for flash carts, well, yeah, that's the 128 life. The 128 was not what I call a great success, and we get less love than even the C64 crowd. I'm not entirely sure you can even replace the C128 KERNAL via flash cart. The honest truth is most C128 users were in C64 most of the time (you could use the extra RAM in C64 mode). However, those flash carts are getting to the point where I question if you're not better off using a TheC64 or another modern replacement. Honestly, I do want to do an entire video on the C128 "experience", but this machine has been a serious problem child No one actually cares enough for the 128 to give it much support. Most of those flash carts work, but only in C64 mode, and none (to my knowledge) can emulate the burst mode support needed. Even then, I do think a lot of people forget the major cons with these machines due to serious nogastia glasses at times :/

@rager1969 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe the problem with the speaker is you didn't wash it. ;)

@mrfawkes9110 Жыл бұрын

Get a small single 14500 flashlight(I use an UltraTac A1) to make the color bands on your resistors clearer. There are also TONS of little things a tiny and powerful flashlight when doing projects, especially if you get one with a diffuser.

@Bitwise1024 2 жыл бұрын

Does it emulate read head misalignment due to head knock? lol There are some things I don't miss about the past. Copy protection schemes that thrash your hardware is one of them.

@painkillergko 3 жыл бұрын

C64 + 1541-II drive + SD2IEC... Real Hardware is awesome!

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

I def. want to get real Commodore disk drives, but the eBay premium for them are ridicious. A 1541 untested (which usually means out of alignment) goes for 80-100 USD before shipping, and a 1571 can double that. On the rare occassion that eBay has 1581s, I've seen them go to for 600-700 USD.

@DouglasWalrath 3 жыл бұрын

DYI - do yourself in lol 1:45

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

I actually said "doom it yourself", but that works well :)

@ZzigZaG00NIN 2 жыл бұрын

Ooh that looks tasty

@_GhostMiner Жыл бұрын

*1:19** is this some kind of demo?*

@marcinbielewicz1978 2 жыл бұрын

(offtopic: how did you setup your C128 with a modern LCD display?)

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

I used a retrotink, and a rewired S-Video cable (you can use Composite cables just fine, but S-Video is notably sharper)

@marcinbielewicz1978 2 жыл бұрын

@@NCommander Thank you!

@guxtavo14 2 жыл бұрын

There are android apps that will take a picture of the resistor and "scan" the colors to give you the value ;)

@Stjaernljus 3 жыл бұрын

Train good. EDIT: Car bad.

@andlabs 3 жыл бұрын

Trains are good yes. (Then again, I ride the LIRR, so.) We just want ours to be better across the country =P

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

Trains are great in general. American trains need some effort :(.

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

@@andlabs I wouldn't use LIRR as an example of good service >.>;

@bennydreamly 3 жыл бұрын

resistor resistance lol

@matthew65536 2 жыл бұрын

Has anyone told you that you sound like MichealMJD?

@kovacsdavid4362 3 жыл бұрын

Oh brace yourself. You still haven't seen the rail systems in the Balkan countries.

@NCommander 3 жыл бұрын

Actually I have. I did a rail tour of that entire area. From Bosnia to Serbia was 15 hours and two full pages of passport stamps, and plenty of other long legs

@kovacsdavid4362 3 жыл бұрын

@@NCommander Then you have all of my respect.