Building a New Retro Computer - Part 1: VGA on the ESP32-S3 bitfixer 2023-06-30 | Back on YouTube after a long time! I'm building a new retro-style computer, using an Espressif ESP32-S3. This is Part 1 of the development diary, where I write a VGA library for the S3 using its RGB LCD driver. Hope you enjoy it.My VGA Driver:github.com/bitfixer/esp32s3vga
Compact Mac Repair Update: 3D Printed Floppy Drive Eject Gear Replacement (Mac 512k, Macintosh Plus) bitfixer 2023-12-20 | Update for the Compact Mac Repair: Replacing the destroyed floppy drive eject gear with a 3d printed replacement.My Website:bitfixer.comOriginal Compact Mac Repair Video:youtube.com/watch?v=hm002Hfp9Q03D Printed Eject Gear for Mac floppy drive:ebay.com/itm/235092616547
Holiday Special! Can We Fix These Mystery Compact Macs? Macintosh 512k and Macintosh Plus bitfixer 2023-12-16 | #vintagecomputer #mac #macintoshThis video is supported by PCBWay! Check out the Xmas sale until Dec 31, up to 50% off at pcbway.com.Can we fix these two broken compact macs? Got a Macintosh 512k and a Macintosh Plus locally and I know nothing about them, other than the fact that they're not working.My Website:bitfixer.com3D Model for Sony 800k Floppy Drive Eject Gear:thingiverse.com/thing:4167139
Building a New Retro Computer Part 3: I2S Audio on the ESP32-S3 bitfixer 2023-12-05 | I'm adding audio capability to the ESP32-S3 using an external I2S DAC. Connect up the chip, write some code to initialize and play a sound, then do some simple sound synthesis.My Website:bitfixer.comI2S sample code from Espressif:github.com/espressif/esp-idf/tree/master/examples/peripherals/i2s/i2s_basic/i2s_stdPCM5102A Breakout Board:amazon.com/dp/B09C5QX228
Building a New Retro Computer - Part 2: USB Keyboard and CPU on the ESP32-S3 bitfixer 2023-11-09 | This time, we add a USB Keyboard to an ESP32-S3 using its USB host mode, and try out a couple of emulated 8-bit CPUs, adding emulators for a Digital Group Z-80 system and a Commodore PET with a 6502.Part 1 of the series (VGA on the ESP32S3):youtu.be/FpnxLpDCWtEESP32-S3 VGA Driver:github.com/bitfixer/esp32s3vgaDigital Group Z80 emulator:github.com/bitfixer/dgemuESP32-S3 Development Board:amazon.com/gp/product/B0BX31WGQG
California Extreme 2023 Arcade and Pinball Expo bitfixer 2023-09-23 | Visiting the California Extreme Arcade and Pinball Expo! Here's about 20 minutes of genuine arcade ambiance with no talking or music. Hope you enjoy it.
Repairing a TRS-80 Model 1 with help from the ROMulator: #SepTandy bitfixer 2022-09-18 | #septandy #trs80 #vintagecomputer #tandy #z80 #romulatorThis episode is supported by PCBWay, check out pcbway.com for PCB fabrication, 3D Printing, and much more.For #septandy: Trying to get my TRS-80 Model 1 working! It has multiple faults including display issues and something wrong with the ROM. With help from the ROMulator Z80, let's debug the problems with this machine.See the first video where I looked at this TRS-80:youtu.be/oFlTwaiJ7fEMy Website:bitfixer.comROMulator Z80:bitfixer.com/product/romulator-z80KiCad files and gerbers for the character generator adapter PCB shown in the video are here:github.com/bitfixer/pcb/tree/main/mcm6670_to_eprom
Bits and Bytes from Vintage Computer Festival West 2022 bitfixer 2022-08-12 | #vintagecomputer #vcfA look at some of the exhibits and exhibitors from VCF West 2022, Aug 6-7 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA0:36 - Chuck Hutchins' pets1:15 - cocovga3:44 - Amiga a4091 project5:55 - C64i - Commodore 64 Improved6:37 - Prodigy Reloaded8:29 - Commodore 64 40th Anniversary10:55 - Commodore 8-bit/Amiga12:06 - ROMulator and PETpix12:38 - 8080 Triton Computer12:57 - Analog Equipment13:06 - Heathkit H813:25 - Radio Shack Micros and Cousins13:48 - The First Apple 114:02 - Apple II #1014:14 - Apple Prototype Board14:15 - Bill Gates Tandy 10014:18 - Quapple 6502 board for PC14:31 - Computers from Japan15:03 - British Micros with Econet15:12 - Bad Apple with Teletext15:27 - CleanupLinks:PETpix: youtu.be/xG75F2LY3owbitfixer.com@HutchCA http://cocovga.comhttp://prodigyreloaded.comhttp://amiga.technologybitfixer.com/petpix
Commodore PET Video with PETpix! YouTube, Live, and more on a 40+ year old text-based computer. bitfixer 2022-08-01 | #commodore #vintagecomputer #6502This episode is supported by PCBWay, check out pcbway.com for PCB fabrication, 3D Printing, and much more.PETpix is a way to play video on your Commodore PET. Since PETs cannot normally display bitmapped graphics, the way to do this is to take 8x8 chunks from an original image and match to whatever PETscii character the computer can display. See how PETpix works and check out the repository to make one for yourself.PETpix will be at VCF West 2022, Aug 6-7 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. More information here:vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-westPETpix repository:github.com/bitfixer/petpix_v3Videos of other incarnations of PETpix in past years. Quality and FPS have improved since then!youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8-iEewVDYyoutube.com/watch?v=nUn6BbRDnpIyoutube.com/watch?v=bTd58WZ1zEEMy website:bitfixer.comOrder a PETpix board from me (soon):bitfixer.com/petpix
ROMulator Z80 Release! Using it to diagnose a TRS-80 Model 1, and new ROMulator announcements. bitfixer 2022-06-24 | #trs80 #z80 #romulator #fpgaThis episode is supported by PCBWay, check out pcbway.com for PCB fabrication, 3D Printing, and much more.The ROMulator Z80 is now available! In small quantities for now, more coming soon. I use it to diagnose some issues on a TRS-80 Model 1 I've had around for years, but have never actually done anything with. Stay until the end for some new ROMulator announcements. ROMulator Z80:bitfixer.com/romulator-z80ROMulator 6502:bitfixer.com/romulator
Repairing my Commodore PET 8032 with a video problem bitfixer 2022-06-14 | #commodore #6502 #vintagecomputer My trusted Commodore PET 8032 developed a video issue while in storage over the last few months. Can we fix it?My Website:bitfixer.com
A $1 Sony Vaio, and a 486SX Laptop from 1994 bitfixer 2022-06-09 | #vintagecomputer #windows98 #vaio #canonExploring two PC laptops from the mid to late 90s - or possibly early 2000s. Taking a look at a Canon Innovabook 10C, and a Sony Vaio PCG-F430. Let's clean them up and install solid state drives for that 90s experience, but better!My website:bitfixer.com
ROMulator Z80 - Its back! Does it work? bitfixer 2022-05-26 | #z80 #romulator #vintagecomputer #fpga #zx81 #digitalgroupTrying out the newest boards for the ROMulator Z80 (RAM/ROM replacement and debug device) on the Timex Sinclair 1000 and another mystery Z80 machine! Will it work?This episode sponsored by PCBWay: pcbway.comMy website:bitfixer.comROMulator 6502:bitfixer.com/romulatorFirst ROMulator Z80 testing video:youtu.be/FYt7wMqpceMCheck out my videos on the digital group:youtu.be/Ft-JzI0j48syoutu.be/xlqVRmGp3i4See Adrian Black's videos using the ROMulator 6502 on a VIC-20 and PET:youtu.be/wamgUxN1z6oyoutu.be/NH6BW5TLOqs
Bad Boards or Bugs? Finding the problem - and making the ROMulator easier to use. bitfixer 2022-05-14 | #romulator #fpga #vintagecomputer #6502 #z80I got a bunch of new FPGA boards for the ROMulator - but there's a problem. Is it something wrong with the boards, or can it be fixed in software?Also, a new way to program the ROMulator which should make it easier to use.bitfixer.combitfixer.com/romulatorweb application for romulator programming:http://bitfixer.com/romulator-build
ROMulator Z80 - First Test! bitfixer 2022-04-30 | #romulator #z80 #vintagecomputerFirst test of a project that I've had in the works for a while now - the ROMulator Z80! Testing out some basic features on a Timex Sinclair 1000 with a Z80 processor.More information at: bitfixer.comROMulator 6502:bitfixer.com/romulatorIf you haven't seen them yet, check out Adrian Black's videos using the ROMulator 6502:youtu.be/wamgUxN1z6oyoutu.be/NH6BW5TLOqs
#DGAPRIL - 2022 software on a 1978 digital group computer bitfixer 2022-04-20 | #vintagecomputer #DGAPRIL #digitalgroupLooking at software and storage devices for the digital group, a digital group emulator, and some new digital group software!
PETdisk MAX v2: Assembly and Operation bitfixer 2022-04-07 | #commodore #petdiskThe new version of the PETdisk MAX is here! It's an SD card and WiFi storage device for the Commodore PET. Here's how to assemble and use it.PETdisk MAX product page:bitfixer.com/petdisk-maxGitHub repo:github.com/bitfixer/petdisk-max
#DGAPRIL Part 1 - A first look at the digital group bitfixer 2022-04-01 | #dgapril #thedigitalgroup #vintagecomputersIf you're into vintage computers on YouTube, you have probably heard of #doscember or #marchintosh - but I know you haven't heard of #dgapril! That's because I just made it up, literally right now. This month we celebrate the digital group (all lowercase), one of my favorite computers from the 70s and a model that doesn't get talked about enough in the vintage computer world. Here's a first look at the digital group.
New Features for the ROMulator! bitfixer 2022-03-24 | Raspberry Pis are out of stock everywhere these days. Now you can program and debug with your ROMulator without one. #romulator #6502ROMulator:bitfixer.com/romulatorAdrian Black's video using the ROMulator on a PET 4016:youtu.be/NH6BW5TLOqs
New ROMulator Feature - External Virtual Display! bitfixer 2021-11-14 | Demo of a recently added feature - an external virtual display using dual-ported RAM on the ROMulator FPGA and a web server running on a connected Raspberry Pi. Now it's possible to read specified sections of RAM without halting, while the 6502 CPU continues to run.More information at:bitfixer.com/romulatorgithub.com/bitfixer/bf-romulator
PETdisk MAX Kit Assembly bitfixer 2021-11-12 | Assembly guide for the PETdisk MAX kit.More information at:bitfixer.comAlso see the PETdisk MAX github repo here:github.com/bitfixer/petdisk-max
Commodore PET HDMI Out with RGBtoHDMI bitfixer 2021-08-24 | I did some experiments using a PET 2001-N with an RGBtoHDMI to get HDMI video out, so I wouldn't have to strain the CRT with repeated use during testing of other devices.
ROMulator Kit Assembly bitfixer 2021-08-21 | How to assemble the ROMulator kit. More information at:bitfixer.com/romulator
Fixing Jeffs Commodore PET 2001-N with help from the ROMulator (HD) bitfixer 2021-06-13 | I'm trying to fix a PET 2001-N with some strange symptoms. It runs for a while, sometimes, and freezes or garbage shows up on the screen. Hopefully a gadget I built called the ROMulator will help.ROMulator: bitfixer.com/romulatorCheck out Adrian Black's video on the ROMulator over at Adrian's digital basement: youtu.be/wamgUxN1z6o
