Basic Bites

PEEK inside the MPS-802: the most misunderstood dot matrix printer for the Commodore 64! Today we'll rebuild one and talk all about it, including tips for general maintenance, and a test print. N.B.- Also marketed as the Commodore 1526 for the VIC-20 with cosmetic differences -- and ALSO as the Commodore 4023 with a parallel IEEE-488 interface instead of the familiar IEC serial. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 4:11 - Background 10:56 - Sidebar: Jan Beta's MPS-801 11:55 - Bottom Case 14:51 - Power Supply & Safety 16:34 - Mainboard & ICs 26:58 - Mechanical & Maintenance 37:06 - Completing Assembly 38:49 - Ribbon Cartridges 44:37 - Load & Test Print LINKS- MPS-802 Dot Matrix Printer - User's Guide - https://archive.org/details/MPS-802DotMatrixPrinterUsersGuide 1526 / MPS 802 / 4023 Service Manual - https://archive.org/details/1526MPS-8024023ServiceManual314003-031985Apr MPS series - C64-Wiki - https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/MPS_series Printer Book for the Commodore-64 (Abacus Software) - https://archive.org/details/Printer_Book_for_the_Commodore_64_and_VIC-20/ 1526/MPS-802 Parts & Ribbons (Zimmers) - http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firmware/printers/1526/README Rubber Renue (MG Chemicals) - https://www.mgchemicals.com/products/electronics-maintenance/specialized-cleaners/rubber-renue/ MOLYKOTE EM-30L Grease - https://www.dupont.com/products/molykote-em-30l-grease.html Jan Beta's Commodore MPS-801 Printer Restoration - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkPEbDQ_Xkc #Commodore #MPS802 #Printer #1526 #DotMatrix #Commodore64 #C64 #VIC20

PEEK inside the Commodore 1571 Disk Drive: marketed with the C128 as an intended successor to the 1541. Today we'll rebuild one, talk about internals (such as ICs & ROM), and give practical tips for general maintenance, lubrication, and head cleaning. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - 1571 Overview 4:44 - Shells 6:05 - Mainboard 7:27 - Mainboard - ICs & ROM 12:49 - Mainboard - Connectors 14:58 - Power Supply (PSU) 21:37 - Mechanical Assembly 25:38 - Maintenance 34:27 - Outro LINKS- 1571 Disk Drive User's Guide - https://archive.org/details/1571UsersGuide/ Commodore 1571 - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_1571 Commodore 1571 - C64-Wiki - https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commodore_1571 1571 Service Manual - https://archive.org/details/1571ServiceManualPreliminary314002-041986Oct/ 1571 Service Manual (Alt. Version) - https://archive.org/details/1571ServiceManualPreliminary314002-041986OctAlt/ Commodore 1571 Internals (Abacus Software) - https://archive.org/details/Commodore_128_Book_4_1571_Internals Zimmers.net - 1571 Firmware (ROMs) - http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firmware/drives/new/1571/index.html Retro Isle - Commodore 1571 Troubleshooting Guide - http://www.retroisle.com/commodore/c64128/Technical/Hardware/1571_troubleshooting.php MOLYKOTE EM-30L Grease - https://www.dupont.com/products/molykote-em-30l-grease.html #Commodore1571 #DiskDrive #Commodore128 #C128 #Commodore64 #C64

Commodore monitors are increasingly rare and expensive compared to the computers themselves. Here are some tips on buying an LCD for your C64 (or C128)! CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 3:24 - Tip #1 5:24 - Tip #2 8:10 - Tip #3 13:08 - Tip #4 18:15 - Outro MORE INFORMATION- The Toshiba television featured in this video is model 15DL75. The Philips TV mentioned as supporting both NTSC and PAL is 15PF5120/28. Commodore monitors released specifically for use with the C64 included the original 1701 (no A, B, C, or D), the 1702, and multiple 1802 versions, with the later 1802 models intended for the Commodore 64C. For the C128, the 1902 and 1902A were fully compatible with the C64 in 40-column mode, and also supported 80-column RGBI via a separate input. #Commodore64 #C64 #LCD #Monitor #Television

A practical demonstration of 1980s desktop publishing with PrintMaster Plus on a Commodore 64 computer and MPS-803 dot matrix printer. Today we'll be designing posters tributing Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 3:28 - The Print Shop (1984) 5:25 - PrintMaster (1985) 9:36 - Loading PMP (Warning!) 12:22 - PrintMaster Plus (1987) 13:00 - PMP Setup 15:19 - New Poster 16:41 - Border & Graphics 21:41 - Fonts & Text 28:45 - Preview, Edit, & Save 31:25 - Poster #2 35:55 - Results & Outro LINKS- Basic Bites - Files & Downloads - http://files.basicbites.ca/ PrintMaster User's Guide (2nd Edition) - https://archive.org/details/PrintMasterUsersGuide2ndEdition1986/ PrintMaster User's Guide (Single Page) - https://archive.org/details/01aConverted/ PrintMaster Plus User's Guide - https://archive.org/details/PrintmasterPlus1988UserManual/ The Creative PrintMaster - https://archive.org/details/the-creative-print-master/ #PrintMaster #PrintMasterPlus #UnisonWorld #Commodore64 #C64

The Pi1541 (Commodore 1541 emulator for the Raspberry Pi) can be instructed to create NEW blank D64/G64 disk images directly from BASIC on your Commodore 64 or 128. Today I'll show you how! CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:51 - Alternative Methods 5:40 - Browser vs Emulator Mode 7:33 - The NEW Command 10:20 - Tips, Limitations, Workaround 16:00 - Documentation & Outro LINKS- Pi1541 by Steve White - https://cbm-pi1541.firebaseapp.com/ GitHub - pi1541/Pi1541 - https://github.com/pi1541/Pi1541 #Pi1541 #Commodore1541 #Commodore64 #C64

How to print program listings -- or anything, really -- from VICE (the Versatile Commodore Emulator). We'll configure virtual printer settings, and compare output of the Commodore MPS-803 to the Star Micronics NL10. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:21 - Printer Settings 5:54 - Print Job #1 (MPS-803) 11:11 - Print Job #2 (NL10) 15:46 - High-Res (Bitmap) Printing LINKS- VICE - the Versatile Commodore Emulator - https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/ Final Cartridge - ReplayResources - https://rr.pokefinder.org/wiki/Final_Cartridge #VICE #Commodore #Emulator #Printer #Printing #Commodore64 #C64

Commodore History's video "How Many Commodore 64 Computers did Commodore Sell?" got me curious what Guinness World Records was listing for "Best-selling desktop computer". The answer surprised me! LINKS- How Many Commodore 64 Computers did Commodore Sell? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m343skFnkg Best-selling desktop computer | Guinness World Records - https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/72695-most-computer-sales DISCLAIMER- Any inclusion of third-party material is claimed under the Fair Dealing exception (Section 29) of the Copyright Act of Canada for the purposes of education, news reporting, and review. #Commodore64 #C64 #Guinness

RTFR is not just another sequential text viewer. I wrote it so that I (and you!) can include a README.TXT on distribution disks, and the end user can quickly view it by simply LOADing & RUNning "README" -- with proper word wrapping, pausing between screens, and option to print a hard-copy! A new freeware software release for the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, VIC-20, and 264 Series (Plus4 & C16)! CHAPTERS- 0:00 Intro & Demo 5:18 Disk & Usage 8:53 Text Files 11:42 FC3 Notepad Demo 14:17 264 Series (C16) 17:03 Printing Demo 19:02 VIC-20 (+8K) 21:45 Commodore 128 26:50 Download & Outro LINKS- Basic Bites - Files & Downloads - http://files.basicbites.ca/ #RTFR #Commodore64 #Commodore128 #VIC20 #Plus4

Using NIB files with your C64/1541 emulator: what they are, and how to easily convert them to G64/D64 floppy disk images. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - What is a NIB file? 4:53 - Getting NIBTOOLS 6:08 - nibconv - Command Line 11:40 - nibconv - Drag & Drop 12:42 - Outro LINKS- Commodore 64 Preservation Project - https://c64preservation.com/ NIBTOOLS Utilities - https://c64preservation.com/files/nibtools/ Bit nibbler - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_nibbler #Commodore64 #C64 #NIBTOOLS #1541 #DiskImages #NIB #G64 #D64

How to dump a C128 cartridge ROM into a binary file that you can use in a Commodore emulator such as VICE. This MACH-128 cartridge is a version that I haven't found online, so let's get it preserved. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:06 - MACH-128 & MACH-5 4:34 - Storage Options 6:09 - Examining Memory 12:37 - Saving Memory 19:03 - Making ROMs 26:27 - VICE x128 27:05 - Outro LINKS- Basic Bites - Files & Downloads - http://files.basicbites.ca/ MACH5 - ReplayResources - https://rr.pokefinder.org/wiki/MACH_5 Commodore 128 System Guide - https://archive.org/details/c128-system-guide VICE - the Versatile Commodore Emulator - https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/ #Commodore128 #C128 #Cartridge #ROM #MACH128 #MACH5

Version 3.6 of VICE (the Versatile Commodore Emulator) has been released, with new features (and bugs). Let's take a brief look at the Commodore 64 emulator (x64sc) in both SDL2 and GTK3 form. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:07 - Downloading VICE 3:15 - SDL2 Version 5:30 - GTK3 Version 11:00 - Keyboard/Cartridge Bug 15:32 - Outro LINKS- VICE - the Versatile Commodore Emulator - https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/ ReplayResources - https://rr.pokefinder.org/wiki/Main_Page Final Cartridge - ReplayResources - https://rr.pokefinder.org/wiki/Final_Cartridge Cartridge Speeder - ReplayResources - https://rr.pokefinder.org/wiki/Category:Cartridge_Speeder #VICE #Commodore #Emulator #Commodore64 #C64

A 3-in-1 BASIC programming tutorial that demonstrates how to detect the size of the current screen, interact with KERNAL routines & processor registers, and know if we're running on a Commodore 128. This short program works on the Commodore 64, the Commodore 128, and the VIC-20. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 4:24 - C64 Demo 05:32 - Code - Setup 10:46 - Code - Main 15:41 - C128, VIC-20, & Outro LINKS- Basic Bites - Files & Downloads - http://files.basicbites.ca/ Commodore 64 Programmer's Reference Guide - https://archive.org/details/Commodore_64_Programmers_Reference_Guide_1983_Commodore/ Commodore 64 Programmer's Reference Guide (alt.) - https://archive.org/details/Commodore_64_Programmers_Reference_Guide_1983_Commodore_a/ #Commodore64 #Commodore128 #BASIC #KERNAL #Programming

I found a feature in The Final Cartridge III fastloader that I have not seen documented anywhere before! This may be especially useful if you have both 1541 and non-1541 devices. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Explanation 7:58 - Outro LINKS- Final Cartridge III Undocumented Functions - https://www.pagetable.com/?p=534 Final Cartridge - ReplayResources - https://rr.pokefinder.org/wiki/Final_Cartridge #FinalCartridge #FinalCart #FC3 #TFCIII #Commodore64 #C64

How to connect a Commodore Disk Drive to your Windows PC, and backup diskettes to D64 & NIB disk images using OpenCBM & NIBTOOLS. The ZoomFloppy from @RETRO Innovations works with Commodore 1541 & 1571 floppy disk drives, among others. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 3:49 - Drivers & Docs 8:19 - Power-On Sequence 9:44 - Windows System Path 12:33 - Testing 14:03 - Copying (d64copy) 17:55 - Nibbling (nibread) & Outro LINKS- ZoomFloppy - RETRO Innovations - http://www.go4retro.com/products/zoomfloppy/ Purchase ZoomFloppy (RETRO Innovations Store) - https://store.go4retro.com/zoomfloppy/ OpenCBM download | SourceForge.net - https://sourceforge.net/projects/opencbm/ OpenCBM Users Guide (Online) - https://opencbm.trikaliotis.net/ Commodore 64 Preservation Project - https://c64preservation.com/ NIBTOOLS Utilities - https://c64preservation.com/files/nibtools/ #ZoomFloppy #OpenCBM #NIBTOOLS #Commodore #1541 #1571

I'm upgrading my Pi1541 floppy disk drive emulator for the Commodore 64 (and 128). Let's look at some interesting products and talk about the different hardware options! CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 3:56 - Pi1541 Zero Cartridge 7:10 - Comparing Firmware 10:12 - Comparing Hardware 15:38 - Pi 3 Hat (Pi1541io) 20:01 - Pi 3 Case (Pibow) 22:40 - SD Card & Outro DISCLAIMER- This video has no sponsors or affiliates. All product commentary is my own personal opinion as a customer. Any inclusion of third-party images or other copyrighted material is claimed under the Fair Dealing exception (Section 29) of the Copyright Act of Canada for the purposes of education, criticism, and review. LINKS- Pi1541 by Steve White - https://cbm-pi1541.firebaseapp.com/ Zimmers.net - 1541 Firmware (ROMs) - http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firmware/drives/new/1541/ Remzi Load64 - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNQvrkt1HgWLOLrxCRjRdQA remzi64 on eBay - https://www.ebay.ca/usr/remzi64 Retro Computer Store - https://retrocomputerstore.com/ - https://www.ebay.ca/usr/rc_bension - https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/8bitphoenix Pi1541 | hackup.net - https://www.hackup.net/tag/pi1541/ GitHub - hackup/Pi1541io - https://github.com/hackup/Pi1541io Raspberry Pi in Canada - PiShop.ca - https://www.pishop.ca/ Pibow 3 A+ Coupé - Pimoroni - https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/pibow-3-a-plus-coupe Industrial microSD Card | Western Digital (Sandisk) - https://www.westerndigital.com/products/memory-cards/industrial-microsd #Pi1541 #Commodore1541 #Commodore64 #C64 #PiZero #Pi3

Benchmarking JOYSTICK and BINARY functions in the Epyx Programmers' BASIC Toolkit, to write a C64 Joystick Tester program. Inspired by @8-Bit Show And Tell "Printing Binary in BASIC and Assembly on Commodore 64" (April 4, 2022). DOWNLOAD- bb-220521.d64 at http://files.basicbites.ca/ CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 4:28 - BIN$ and JOY 5:51 - BIN Benchmark 1 9:08 - BIN Benchmark 2 13:04 - BIN Benchmark 3 15:11 - BIN Benchmark 4 17:15 - JOY Benchmark 1 19:25 - JOY Code Example 21:05 - JOY Benchmark 2 24:34 - JOY Benchmark 3 29:16 - JOY Benchmark 4 32:43 - D64 & Program 34:42 - PAD & Outro LINKS- Printing Binary in BASIC and Assembly on Commodore 64 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8t6otqoz_E Epyx Programmers BASIC Toolkit - https://archive.org/details/Epyx_Programmers_BASIC_Toolkit BASIC Toolkit Reference Card - https://archive.org/details/Epyx_Programmers_BASIC_Toolkit_Reference_Card #BASIC #Programming #Joystick #Binary #Commodore64 #C64

How to use the 80-column screen in the VICE C128 emulator. This tutorial demonstrates TWO easy methods (and no fiddling with keyboard mappings)! CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:49 - Method #1 7:54 - Method #2 10:11 - Outro LINKS- VICE - the Versatile Commodore Emulator - https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/ Commodore 128 System Guide - https://archive.org/details/c128-system-guide/ #Commodore128 #C128 #VICE #Emulator #VDC

Explaining the 80-column video (VDC) section of a C128, and how I repaired a broken one. ALSO there's an ARMSID... but why? Tune in to find out! CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:00 - Video Systems Overview 5:39 - Re-capping 7:50 - Troubleshooting & Repair 18:10 - ARMSID 21:36 - Outro LINKS- MOS Technology 8563 - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_8563 Commodore 128 Service Manual - https://archive.org/details/Commodore128128DServiceManual1987Nov/ C-128 Service Manual (Alt Version) - https://archive.org/details/Commodore_128_128D_Service_Manual_314001-08_1987_Nov_Alt_Ver/mode/2up RGBI - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_monochrome_and_RGB_color_formats#4-bit_RGBI ARMSID - https://www.nobomi.cz/8bit/armsid/index_en.php #Commodore128 #C128 #VDC #Video #Repair #MOS8563

Video captured from my Commodore 64C with a Hauppauge USB-Live2 Analog Video Digitizer. Basic Bites will feature a mix of real and emulated capture going forward! LINKS- Hauppauge | USB-Live2 Video Capture - https://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_usblive2.html #Commodore64 #C64 #Analog #Video #Capture

No kidding: I found an F-Bomb (and other Easter eggs!) in the Epyx Programmers' BASIC Toolkit, coded by Ken Rose, Jack Thornton, and Howard Bowen in 1985. This software development package for the Commodore 64 is the successor to HesWare Graphics BASIC (1983) by Ron Gilbert and Tom McFarlane. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 1:42 - Finding the F-Bomb 5:37 - Dropping the F-Bomb 7:36 - History & Developers 8:28 - Questions & Outro LINKS- Epyx Programmers BASIC Toolkit - https://archive.org/details/Epyx_Programmers_BASIC_Toolkit BASIC Toolkit Reference Card - https://archive.org/details/Epyx_Programmers_BASIC_Toolkit_Reference_Card #Epyx #BASIC #EasterEgg #Commodore64 #C64

The C64 Program Pack was distributed by Commodore with 1541 Disk Drives in 1983, and contained "over 30 public domain programs including some games, sound/graphics demos, and utilities". Today we'll explore the disk's history & contents (and you can download your very own copy)! CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - History 4:28 - Disk Directory 5:59 - Menu Program 7:37 - Programs 1 to 3 9:12 - #4 Bits and Bytes 10:26 - Programs 5 to 7 11:15 - #8 Colour Test 12:05 - Programs 9 to 12 13:08 - #13 Labyrinth 15:14 - Programs 14 to 19 16:28 - #20 Sound Effects 17:15 - Programs 21 & 22 and Exit 19:06 - Download & Outro LINKS- Basic Bites - Files & Downloads - http://files.basicbites.ca/ #Commodore64 #C64 #ProgramPack

My method of heat-sinking a Commodore 64C "short board" (PCB ASSY 250469), with discussion of the design features that help it run cooler than its "breadbox" predecessors. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 4:11 - Technical Information 9:39 - Heatsinking Method 15:00 - Outro #Commodore64 #C64 #Heatsinking #ShortBoard

Welcome to Basic Bites: a channel for Commodore 64 users! This short intro was written in BASIC (what else?) on a Commodore 64C. #Commodore64 #C64 #BASIC

The 1541C Disk Drive has notable internal differences from its predecessor. Released in 1986 alongside the Commodore 64C, it is NOT just a cosmetically updated 1541. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 3:47 - Difference #1 8:46 - Difference #2 11:56 - Difference #3 16:20 - Outro LINKS- 1541C Disk Drive User's Guide - https://archive.org/details/1541CUsersGuide Zimmers.net - 1541 Firmware (ROMs) - http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firmware/drives/new/1541/ #Commodore1541C #DiskDrive #Commodore64 #C64

This C128 keyboard made by Mitsumi had problems with 2 keys; one of them surprised me! Tips for disassembly, cleaning, and repair. CHAPTERS- 0:00 - Intro 2:22 - Disassembly & Cleaning 5:55 - Ridiculous Fault 8:00 - Outro #Commodore128 #C128 #Keyboard #Repair #Spring