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Post by mrichards0 on Mar 28, 2021 13:24:39 GMT
I've read through some of the treads about hacking THEC64 maxi/mini to add serial support to the kernal, but is there any chance we could get support for the FTDI or VCP USB serial drivers in an official firmware upgrade, so we could attach a NodeMCU, Arduino, or even develop our own hardware for THEC64? (Without modification to the device) I'd like to develop some multiplayer games and it would also be fun to stand up an old school BBS. These are possible with the original C64 hardware using a NodeMCU ESP8266 (I've done it on a TRS-80, sending serial AT commands to change settings or connect to IP addresses). I don't think the average user would hack THEC64 just to play a game, but a $6 board and opensource firmware that plugs right in without any additional hardware or a pre-flashed board in a nice case for about $15 to $20 that gives THEC64 wifi access would probably sell. www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Internet-Development-Wireless-Micropython/dp/B010O1G1ES
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Post by jj0 on Mar 28, 2021 13:55:42 GMT
I've read through some of the treads about hacking THEC64 maxi/mini to add serial support to the kernal, but is there any chance we could get support for the FTDI or VCP USB serial drivers in an official firmware upgrade, so we could attach a NodeMCU, Arduino, or even develop our own hardware for THEC64? (Without modification to the device) I'd like to develop some multiplayer games and it would also be fun to stand up an old school BBS. These are possible with the original C64 hardware using a NodeMCU ESP8266 (I've done it on a TRS-80, sending serial AT commands to change settings or connect to IP addresses). I don't think the average user would hack THEC64 just to play a game, but a $6 board and opensource firmware that plugs right in without any additional hardware or a pre-flashed board in a nice case for about $15 to $20 that gives THEC64 wifi access would probably sell. www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Internet-Development-Wireless-Micropython/dp/B010O1G1ES
For official firmware requests you're in the wrong place ;-), you'd better direct that at RGL at their Facebook page or website.
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Post by mrichards0 on Mar 28, 2021 15:06:39 GMT
Their website contact page was broken, so I sent them a Facebook message Hopefully I'll get a response.
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Post by mrichards0 on Mar 29, 2021 19:22:32 GMT
I got a response and it wasn't no. They said, "We will pass this on to the team but unlikely this will be on any current development road maps." There's a glimmer of hope. I hope they understand what I'm asking. It would be awesome to have a serial interface to connect WiFi "modems", printers, and other hardware devices.
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Post by xfgreen on Dec 5, 2021 7:25:43 GMT
I agree. I’d love to use theC64 as a controller for various projects. Any form of output via an emulated user port (sent to USB) would be great. I picture a BASIC PETSCII program that talks to a USB serial IO board to control motors, servos, LEDs, etc..
This would be the perfect combination of a retro UI, ease of programming, and automation.
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Post by c64stuff on Dec 5, 2021 10:31:31 GMT
I was thinking a way around that would be to program something like a Pi to act like a USB flash drive, talking to to mini or Maxi properly in that fashion, but it redirecting say any sequential commodore disk drive read/write commands to input/output of a wifi modem or whatever you're looking to do. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a sequential file read or write but rather some type of drive command the mini or Maxi sends to the USB stick normally. An added option would be to rewrite the actual Commodore 64 kernal so any modem input or output is intercepted and sent to the "disk drive" for this, which in turn would trick the mini and Maxi emulator to cooperate in a sense and you could run something like stock BBS software without having to modify the modem input output code or write new software to do the disk drive bypass trick.
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