========
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: COMP.SYS.CBM: General FAQ, v3.1 Part 7/9
From: brain@mail.msen.com (Jim Brain)
Date: 13 Aug 1996 01:01:37 -0400


X-Posted-By: YPost, version 0.08


Archive-name: cbm-main-faq.3.1.p7
Comp-answers-archive-name: commodore/main-faq/part7
News-answers-archive-name: commodore/main-faq/part7
Comp-sys-cbm-archive-name: main-faq/part7
Version: 3.1
Last-modified: 1996/08/12
		       	

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Table of Contents (for this file)
  ---------------------------------

  10.  Emulators
  10.1.  What is an emulator?
  10.2.  What platforms do 64 emulators exist on?
  10.3.  What platforms do 128 emulators exist on?
  10.4.  Are any other Commodore computers emulated?

  11.  Troubleshooting
  11.1.  What do I doisk drive?
  11.2.  What do I do for my ill computer?
  11.2.1.  What do I do for my ill Commodore 64?
  11.2.2.  What do I do for my ill Commodore 128?
  11.3.  What do I do for my ill keyboard?
  
  12.  Modifications and Cabling
  How can you alter which side a 1571 reads from?
  12.2.  How do I open a C128 power supply?
  12.3.  How do I make a cable to hook my CBM 1902A to my 64 or 128?
  12.4.  How do I build a simple RS-232 interface cable?
  12.5.  How do I build a 2400/9600 bps RS-232 interface cable?
  12.6.  How can I determine how much VDC video memory is in my C128?
  12.7.  How do I build a GEOCable interface?
+ 12.8.  How do I connect my Commodore printer to an IBM PC?
  
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


  10.  Emulators
  
  As time moves on, people move to other computer systems, for business resons
  or otherwise.  However, many still long to play Commodore games, use 
  Commodore software, and enjoy Commodore demos.  Thus, emulators were born
  to bring the non-Commodore computer owner the enjoyment of owning a
  Commodore.
  
    
  10.1.  What is an emulator?
  
  An emulator is a piece of software that runs on a given platform and
  emulates, or mimics, the operation of another machine.  When the
  emulator loads up a program, the programs runs as though it were running
  on the emulated platform.

| For more information on emulators and their use, please see The Commodore 
| emulator FAQ, maintained by Ken Gifford  (tsrken@voicenet.com).  I can also be found on Jim Brain's MAILSERV serve 6.5.2 for more
| information).
  
  For those with WWW browsers, the CBM Emulation FAQ is at:

| http://www.hut.fi/~msmakela/cbm/faq/
                          
  
  10.2.  What platforms do 64 emulators exist on?
  
  64 emulators exist on the following machines:
  
  Amiga
  IBM
  Atari ST
  Macintosh
  UNIX
  
  
  10.3.  What platforms do 128 emulators exist on?
  
  There is a very basic Commodore 128 emulator bundled available for the 
  UNIX platform under X.  It is bundled with X64.

  
  10.4.  Are any other Commodore computers emulated?
  
  There is a commodore product called the PET emulator that remaps a
  Commodore 64 to emulate a PET 40 column unit (i.e. PET 4032).  You can
  run this program on a C64 to emulate a PET, or you can run this program
| on a 64 emulator to emulate a PET on an IBM, for example.  

+ As for VIC-20 emulators, one exists for the Amiga, and there is a program
+ similar to the PET Emulator that allows a C64 to emulate a VIC-20.  For the
+ UNIX OS, one called VICE is available for machines with X Windows.  Contact
+ Andre Fachat (a.fachat@physik.tu-chemnitz.de) for more information.  The
+ emulator is at: http://www.tu-chemnitz.d  Although not necessarily a different Commodore computer, there is a
  GEOS emulator in the works.  It is called GEOS Warp v1.0 and information
  is available at http://stud1.tuwien.ac.at/~e9426444/geoswarp/index.html.
  A version for the Apple PowerMac is in the alpha stage, and support for
  a PC version.  Plans for a UNIX/X11 version are still unclear.  The author
  is Andreas Varga, and can be contacted at e9426444@stud1.tuwien.ac.at.


  11.  Troubleshooting
  
  
  11.1.  What do I do for my ill disk drive?
 
  If the drive spins and the LEDs are off:
  
  At the back of the 1541 circuit board are two bridge rectifiers - stout
  epoxy packages with 4 leads each. The innermost one is defective

  If both LEDs are dim:
  
  The 5VDC regulator is bad.
  
  If both LEDS are on:
  
  Drive did not make it through the power-on reset sequence.  Kernal ROM
  (901229-05) is susepct, as is (in order of expectation):  VIA (6522), 
  CPU (6502r equivalent), or a "glue" chip in the reset logic

  If your drive won't even accept input from the computerght is making some blinking pattern, then the drive may be telling you
  what is wrong.
  
  No Blink       Kernal (E000-FFFF) ROM or 6522 VIA Failure
  One Blink      6116 RAM Failure
  Two Blinks     Possible Zero Page RAM Failure
  Three Blinks   DOS (C000-CFFF) ROM Failure
  Four Blinks    DOS (C000-CFFF) ROM Failure
  Five Blinks    6116 RAM Failure
  Six Blinks     6116 RAM Failure
| Six Blinks     2114 RAM Failure at c4 or c5 (8050)
  Seven Blinks   6116 RAM Failure
  Eight Blinks   6116 RAM Failure


  1541

  The most common problem facing the 1541 disk drive is alignment.  If your
  1541 has trouble reading commercial disks, or reading disks written some
  time ago, but has less trouble reading recently written disks, chances are
  that your 1541 is out of alignment.  C= service centers will typically align
  a 1541 for anywhere from $20 to $45.  There are also 1541 alignment
  programs, (e.g. Free Spirit's "1541/71 Alignment System") which allow you
  to align a 1541 yourself.  There are those who claim that this does not
  produce good results, but there are others who claim to have had
  satisfactory results with these programs.  There were a couple of articles
  in COMPUTE Gazette and I think RUN on how to do this.  The real problem is
  mechanical in nature and can be over come.  Other products are PHYSICAL
  EXAM 1541 and 1571 versions.

  1571

  The C=1571 drive is normally a double sided drive.  However, it can also
  emulate a 1541 and read single sided disks.  Some of the earlier 1571's had
  oldes (ROMs) which caused a couple of problems.  One, these
  older drives were typically very slow when writing to the back side of a
  disk.  Two, it would take these drives ~30 seconds to go into single sided
  mode.  To chead the error channel of the disk drive
  right after startup.  On the 128, just PRINT DS$.  On the 64, use:

  10 open15,8,15:input#15,a,a$,b,c:close15:printa,a$,b,c

| Run the program; if the message says v3.1, you have the newer ROM.
| If it has a version 3.0 or older, you have the older ROM.

  One problem that might occur is not having the head close enough to the disk
  as required because of the light tension of the spring that pulls the head
  down.  Somewhere I remember that there was supposed to be a replacement
  part.  However, one of the alignment programs suggesting using pennies to
  weight it down and lo and behold it started working.

  1581

  The C=1581 drive is a 3.5" drive that uses DSDD 800K disks.  It is
  compatible with both the C64 and C128, although some programs will not work
  correctly with the 1581.

  A small number of 1581's were shipped with an early version of a controller
  chip which has problems with some software.

  
  11.2.  What do I do for my ill computer?
  
  At times, every computer must be serviced.  As the parts supply of Commodore
  equipment dwindles, servicing becomes harder.  However, there are many
  sources in Section 16.2 that can service your Commodore machine, and here
  are some things you can do to service it yourself.
  
  If the screen is garbled, but BASIC seems to be limping along, and any
  command is met by an error, RAM could be bad.  You can look at bit 
  patterns on the screen by determining screen codes for  garbage characters.
  only bit 4 (32) should be on.  After you determine which bits, here is the
  bit->IC mapping:
       
  Bit 7 (128) : U12
  Bit 6 (64)  : U24
  Bit 5 (32)  : U11
  Bit 4 (16)  : U23
  Bit 3 (8)   : U10
  Bit 2 (4)   : U22
  Bit 1 (2)   : U9
  Bit 0 (1)   : U21

  A common problem with the C-64 is it's power supply.  The C64 power
  supplies are not especially powerful, and have this disturbing tendency to
  fail.  If your computer stops working, first check the power supply.
  Replacement power supplies can be obtained from a number of mail order
  places (e.g. Tenex, Parsec, Inc.).  Additionally, several places advertise
  "heavy-duty" power supplies that come with warranties, and give the C64
  enough power to run a REU.

  If your power supply goes, it can sometimes take other parts of the
  computer with it.  If your power supply has died, but the C64 continues
  to fail with a known working power supply, it is likely that a few of your
  chips got fried.

  Also, another common problem with the C64 is the fuse inside the computer.
  If the system power on light comes on, but you get a blank screen, suspect
  the fuse.  It is usually blown by misinsertion of devices into the computer.


  11.2.2.  What do I do for my ill Commodore 128?

  Like the 1571, the C-128 has an older ROM and a newer ROM.  The differences
  between the two are less serious than is the case with a 1571.  The easiest
  way to tell the difference is to click down the CAPS LOCK key and hit Q
  while in BASIC direct mode.  If you see a lower case q, then you have an
  older ROM.  If you see an upper case Q, then you have a newer ROM. ed from (e.g. Paxtron Corporation) for about $25.  The ROM 
| chips in the 128 are all socketed, so replacing the chips is relatively
| easy.
       
  
  11.3.  What do I do for my ill keyboard?
  
    Clean it:

    Materials you will need:

    Denatured (rubbing) alcohol, a clean pencil eraser, cotton swabs, a small
    Phillips head screwdriver, a jewellers size Phillips screwdriver, a
    solder iron of some type, and a Commodore 64 computer keyboard.

    Procedure:

    1. FIRST AND FOREMOST. Make certain that you have discharged any static
       electricity in your body by grounding yourself to something like a cold
       water pipe. Otherwise, you could blow chips in your computer if you
       were to touch the wrong things.

    2. Turn off your computer and unplug any and all cords and connectors,
       fast-loaders, modems, etc. (just have yourself a naked (if you will
       excuse the expression) computer).

    3. Thoroughly clean all external connectors and ports with the swabs and
       alcohol. Also, clean all into those ports. If the problem
       you had persists, proceed with the following:

    4. On a clean surface, turn your key-board upside-down. Remove the screws
       in the bottom.

    5. CAREFULLY, separate the two halves about an inch. Unplug the connector
       to the "power" LED on the top of the C-64.

    6. Place the two halves flat so that the keyboard is facing  you. The two
       halves will be connected by a wire harness. This harness may be held
       down by tape that must be removed in order to place the unit flat.

    7. Remove the 15 or so brass screws that hold the  circuit  board  under
       the keyboard.
       
    7a.Unsolder the wires going to the shift-lock key.

    8. Turn the circuit board over. You will see the bottom of the keyboard
       with a rubber "U" under each key, which makes contact with the board.
       You will also see on the circuit board, a pair of gold contacts for
       each key on the C-64.
 
    9. CAREFULLY wash ALL the rubber "U"'s and the gold contacts with the
       swabs and rubbing alcohol. Allow the alcohol to DRY.
 
    10.Gently, clean each gold contact with the eraser. BRUSH AWAY THE ERASER
       CRUMBS (I use  a  small  hand-held, battery-powered vacuum cleaner).
 
    11.Re-clean the gold contacts with the swabs and alcohol to ensure that
       you have removed ALL traces of the eraser.
 
    12.Reassemble the C-64 in the reverse order of disassembly.


  12.  Modifications and Cabling
  
  As time wears on, many Commodore owners are turning to themselves to
  manufacture small interfaces, modify their systems, and perform other
  enhancements.  Here are some common things the user can construct
  himself or herself.
  
   
  12.1.  How can you alter which side a 1571 reads from?
  
  On a 128, you can force the 1571 to go into single sided mode with the drive
  command "u0>m0".  (Issue such a command with open15,8,15,"u0>m0":close15.)
  On the 64, a 1571 defaults to single sided mode, but you can convert it to
  double sided mode (and read full double sided disk in 64 mode) with the
  drive command "u0>m1".  While in single sided mode, you can actually format
  both sides of the disk as separate file systems.  The command "u0>h0"
  selects the regular side of the disk, and "u0>h1" selects the flip side of
  the disk.  Note that the flip side, when formatted this way, cannot be read
  by a 1541; neither side will be readable by a 1571 when the disk is
  inserted upside-down.

  
  12.2.  How do I open a C128 power supply?
 
  First, unplug both leads running from the power supply and turn it upside
  down.  Locate four (4) small circles in the bottom; two are in the corners 
  and two in the other end a bit nearer each other.

  Find some sharp tool, e.g. pin or nail.  In turn, poke it inside each of 
  the cirles, firmly, and pull the caps off gently. They'll come out easily. 
  Breaking the caps should not matter, but there is no need to destroy the 
  casing in process.

  Unsrew the 4 Phillips headed srews with an appropriate tool.

  Notes: 
  
  This does not apply to the C64 brick!
  
  Some 128 power supplies do not have rubber feet; rather, they have "L"-
  shaped extensions on the casing.  The caps on these extensions are not
  made of rubber, but can be removed.


  12.3.  How do I make a cable to hook my CBM 1902A to my 64 or 128?
  
  Here is the diagram used to make a replacement Chroma / Luminence 40
  column cable, that the 1902A uses, to connect to the 64 or 128.  

        _______                             ________
   1.  Not Used        /    2    \    *1. Luminance
     / 2       4 \    *2.  Audio          / 4      5  \   *2. Ground  
    !             !   *3.  Ground        !             !  *3. Audio out
    !      6      !   *4.  Chroma        ! 1    6    3 !   4. Video out
    !             !    5.  Not Used      !             !   5. Audio in
     \ 1       5 /    *6.  Luminance      \  7     8  /   *6. Chroma
      \____n____/                          \____n____/     7. Not used
                                                           8. Not used
         1902A                                64/128
                            * Actually used


  12.4.  How do I build a simple RS-232 interface cable?
  
  Here are a couple of different interface ideas, and another can be found
  at ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/CBM/documents/rs232.txt

  Using MAX-232 IC:
    
  Userport C64                                           C64 RS232
                          _________
                         |         |
      PA2 M-----------11-|         |-14------------------- TXD (2)
      PB1 D-----------10-|         |--7------------------- RTS (4)
      PB6 K-----------12-| MAX 232 |-13------------------- CTS (5)
    FLAG2 B---X--------9-|         |--8------------------- RXD (3)
      PB0 C---|          |         |--3--|+-|
      VCC 2-----------16-|         |--1-----|              DB25-connector
      GND N------X----15-|         |
                 X--|+-2-|         |--5--|+-|
                 X--+|-6-|_________|--4-----|
                 |
                 |---------------------------------------- GND (7)

   -|+- capacitor 22uF/16V
   -  +

  Using Transistors:

                          RS-ce
                      <Transistors are 2n2222>
  <24 pin edge connector>
  N <-----------------------+-----------+
                           /            !
          22k         !-!>+             !
  M <----/\/\/--------!                 !
                      !---+             !
          1k               \            !  <male db25 connector>
  2 <----/\/\/--------------+------------>-------------------> 2
                                        !
                      +-----------------+
                       \
                        +<!-!                22k
                            !---------------/\/\/------------> 8
                        +---!
                       /
  H <-----------------+

  E <--------------------------------------------------------> 20

  C <---+
        !
  B <---+-------------+
                       \
                        +---!                22k
                            !---------------/\/\/------------> 3
                        +<!-!
                       / 
  A <-----------------+--------------------------------+-----> 7
                                                       !
                                                       +-----> 4
                                                       !
                                                       +-----> 1


  If you are having problems with this circuit as it stands, you may wish
  to modify it in this way to reverse the clock signal:
  
  Disconnect the emitter and collector on the middle transistor of the 
  diagram (the one that goes to the H line on the computer side)
  Connect the collector to pin 2 on the 24 pin edge connector (the 5v Vcc 
  line), connect the emitter to pin H on the same connector, then connect a 
  1k ohm resistor to the same pin H and the other end of the resistor to pin N
  or A. 
  

  12.5.  How do I build a 2400/9600 bps RS-232 interface cable?
  
  A new programming technique makes it possible to acheive 9600 bps on an
  unexpected Commodore 64 without the use of a Swiftlink cartridge.  
  Daniel Dallmann of Germany is the originator of this technique and is
  currently writing modem drivers for some of the popular C64 terminal
  emulation programs to take advantage of this new technique.
  
  The interface described below is a little more complex than the one
  in Section 12.4, but has many advantages:

  * The interface generates proper EIA232 (RS-232) voltage levels.  
    The one in Section 12.4 relies on the ability of most newer RS232
    equipment to handle lower voltages.
    
  * The following interface can be used as a direct replacement for on 12.4, and will work will all most
    telecommunications programs at up to 2400 bps, while providing the
    necessary interfacing to allow suitably equipped applications to
|   operate at up to 9600 bps.  (Some programs needing DCD and DTR lines
|   may have problems.)
    
  * if you currently own a normal RS232 interface, that interface can be
    modified to incorporate the new interfacing for 9600 bps operation.   
    (in some cases one line of the old interface has to be disconnected,
     see note **1 )

  9600 bps is the maximum limit this type of technique due to the timing
  limitations of the C64.  The delay between the activation of the NMI-handler
  and the falling edge of rxd is too long.  The handler must be called in 
  less than 100 cycles.  That's no problem at 9600 bps, but for 19200 baud 
  (the next higher baud rate), you have only 50 cycles, and that's impossoble 
  (because of VIC-DMA ).  On a C128 in fast mode 38400 baud may be possible,
  but I don't have a C128, so someone else has to try it out.


              Schematic of a very simple RS232-Interface:
  
  
    userport                       MAX232         rs232   9pin  25pin
                                +----------+
                                !          !
  (C)    pb0--+                 !          !
              !                 !    /!    !
  (B)  flag2--*--------------------O< !---------  rxd     2      3
              !                9!    \!    !8
  *7*    sp2--+                 !          !
                                !          !
  *6*   cnt2--+                 !          !
              !                 !          !
  *L*    pb7--+ <NOTE **1!>     !          !
                                !  !\      !
  (M)    pa2--*--------------------! >O---------  txd     3      2
              !               11!  !/      !14
  *5*    sp1--+                 !          !
                  74ls00        !          !
                  +-----+       !          !
                  !     !       !  !\      !
  (D)    pb1-*------>O-------------! >O---------  rts     7      4
             !   1!     !3    10!  !/      !7
             +----!     !       !          !
                 2!     !       !    /!    !
  (K)    pb6--------O<-----*-------O< !---------  cts     8      5
                 6!     !4 !  12!    \!    !13
                  !     !--+    !          !
  (1)    gnd------!     !5      !          !---   gnd     5      7
                 7!     !       !          !15
  (2)    +5V------!     !       !          !     (dsr     6      6)
                14+-----+       !          !
                                !          !     (dcd     1      8)
                                !          !
                                !          !     (dtr     4     20)
                    c2  ! !+    !          !
| (2)    +5v------------! !-----!          !     (ri      9     22)
                        ! !    2!          !
                                !          !
                    c4 +! !     !          !
  (1)    gnd------------! !-----!          !
                        ! !    6!          !
                                !          !
                     c1 ! !+    !          !
                      +-! !-----!          !
                      ! ! !    1!          !
                      !         !          !
                      +---------!          !
                               3!          !
                     c3 ! !+    !          !
                      +-! !-----!          !
                      ! ! !    4!          !
                      !         !          !
                      +---------!          !
                               5!          !
                                !          !
  (1)    gnd--------------------!          !
                              15!          !
                                !          !
  (2)    +5V--------------------!          !
                              16+----------+

  (x) - connections required for a normal RS232-Interface.
  *x* - additional connections to go up to 9600 baud.

| remark: The MAX232 needs 4 capacitors to generate +/- 10 volts to
|         drive the RS-232 unit.  The values are as such:  (in uF)

|         IC       C1   C2   C3   C4                        
|         -------  ---  ---  ---  ---
|         MAX232   1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0  
|         MAX232A  0.1  0.1  0.1  0.1  
|         MAX232E  1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0  
                         
  notes :
     **1 Some other interfaces use this pin.  In that case you have to cut 
         the connection and change it to new way.  PB7 is normally used to 
         receive the DSR (Data Set Ready) signal from the modem, but this 
         signal isn't supported by all terminal progruse of the new 
         wiring DSR will seem to be active to all 'old' programs, so that 
         there won't be any troubles.


     Top view of the used ICs:
  
          74 LS 00                    MAX232
          +------+                   +------+
     inA -!1 \/14!- vcc       +cap1 -!1 \/16!- Vcc
     inA -!      !-  inC      +cap2 -!      !- GND
    outA -!      !-  inC      -cap1 -!      !- RS232/txd
     inB -!      !- outC      +cap3 -!      !- RS232/cts
     inB -!      !-  inD      -cap3 -!      !- TTL/^cts
    outB -!      !-  inD      -cap4 -!      !- TTL/txd
     gnd -!7    8!- outD  RS232/rts -!      !- TTL/^rts
          +------+        RS232/rxd -!8    9!- TTL/rxd
                                     +------+
          4 X NAND
                                     2 X RS232 transmitter
                                     2 X RS232 receiver

        user port (view on C64s backside)

       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12   (top)
      ------------------------------------
       A  B  C  D  E  F  H  J  K  L  M  N   (bottom)
  
          1 - GND       A - GND
          2 - +5V       B - ^flag2
          3 - ^reset    C - pb0
          4 - cnt1      D - pb1
          5 - sp1       E - pb2
          6 - cnt2      F - pb3
          7 - sp2       H - pb4
          8 - ^pc2      J - pb5
          9 - atn in    K - pb6
          10- 9V AC     L - pb7
          11- 9V AC     M - pa2
          12- GND       N - GND


  12.6.  How can I determine how much VDC video memory is in my C128?

  Here are two ways to detect whether the C128 VDC chip has 16kB or 64kB
  of RAM. 

  1 rem fred's nifty program to determine size of 8563 dram
  5 w=dec("cdcc"):r=dec("cdda")
  10 bank15: ad=dec("d600"): da=ad+1 :rem setup ml
  20 pokead,28: s=peek(da): pokeda,63 :rem select 64k
  30 i=16896: sysw,i/256,18:sysw,iand255,19:sysw,85,31 :rem write $55
  40 i=16896: sysw,i/256,18:sysw,iand255,19:sysr,,31:rregc1 :rem read here
  50 i=17152: sysw,i/256,18:sysw,iand255,19:sysr,,31:rregc2 :rem and here
  60 i=16896: sysw,i/256,18:sysw,iand255,19:sysw,170,31 :rem write $aa
  70 i=16896: sysw,i/256,18:sysw,iand255,19:sysr,,31:rregc3 :rem read here
  80 i=17152: sysw,i/256,18:sysw,iand255,19:sysr,,31:rregc4 :rem and here
  s:sysdec("ff62") :rem restore 16/64k
  95 print chr$(14)chr$(147)
  100 irint "16K": else print"64K"  :rem did it echo? 
  110 end

  or:

  POKE DEC("D600"),28:POKE DEC("D601"),63:SYS DEC("FF62"):SCNCLR

  If you have 16k the screen will fill with zeros; 64k will give you a 
  ready prompt.

 
  12.7.  How can I convert my C64 to run on battery power?

  The July, 1990 issue of 73 Amateur Radio has an article on converting
  the C64 and 1541 to run on DC power. I'll summarize the C64 portion:

  DC Power Conversion for the C64

  1. Locate component CR4 on the circuit board. Mark the positive hole on
     the board. Desolder and remove the component.
     
  2. Rest :-)

  3. Connect the marked hole to +12V.

  4. Desolder and remove VR1. Looking down at the component side of the
     board, connect a wire from the vacant righand run it to
     +12V.

  5. Locate L5. It will probably be in one of two locations. On the older
     version, desolder the right hand leg and lift. On the newer version,
     desolder the top leg and lift.

  6. Connect +5V to the empty L5 hole.

  7. Locate the R37 and R100 pads. Use a continuity meter to find the pads
     that are connected. Desolder and lift these legs. You will insert a
     60 Hz clock here.

  8. You could generate this clock using a ve's one:
                                  +12V
          __________________________|
          |                         |
          | C1    R1          ______|_______
          |-)|-+-/\/\/-+-----|6     8       |
          |    |       \     |              |
          |   XTAL1    / R2  |    MM5369    |
          |    |       \     |              |
          |-)|-+-------+-----|5            1|---> 60 Hz (to R37 pad)
            C2               |      2       |
                              ---------------
                                    |
                                   GND

  C1 = 30 pF
  C2 = 3-15 pF (variable)
  XTAL1 = 3.57 MHz crystal
  R1 = 1k
  R2 = 10M

  It is suggested that you use a short length of shielded coax cable to
  connect the 60 Hz output to the R37/R100 pad.

  Also, it is suggested that you use a frequency counter to tune the above
  circuit to exactly 60 Hz.

  This conversion would work well if you wanted to use the C64 in a car or powered
  by a solar set-up.


  12.7.  How do I build a GEOCable interface?
  
  The interface is simply a cable between the printer and the user port.  
  The pinout is as follows:
  
  pin on 64        pin on printer
  
  a  Ground        33  Grond
  b  Flag 2        11  Busy
  c  PB0            2  Data 1
  d  PB1            3  Data 2
  e  PB2            4  Data 3
  f  PB3            5  Data 4
  h  PB4            6  Data 5
  j  PB5            7  Data 6
  k  PB6            8  Data 7
  l  PB7            9  Data 8
  m  PA2            1  Strobe
  n  Ground        16  Ground

  Superscript uses the same cable, but has the following change:

  b  Flag 2        10  Acknowledge

  Either wiring will work with either program, but the GEOCable wiring
  is preferred.
  
  
+ 12.8.  How do I connect my Commodore printer to an IBM PC?

+ Look for the plans for the interface at:

+ http://www.coast.net/simtel/msdos/info/c64topc.zip

  

-- 
Jim Brain, Embedded System Designer, Brain Innovations, Inc. (BII)(offline sig)
j.brain@ieee.org   "Above views DO reflect my employer, since I'm my employer"
Dabbling in WWW, Embedded Systems, VR, Old CBM computers, and Good Times!  -Me-
<a href=http://www.msen.com/~brain/>Jim Brain: BII, VR, and CBM info</a>
