The Frame Grabber 256 by Progressive Peripherals and Software (PP&S) is a video frame digitizer capable of capturing a single frame from moving video in up to 256 shades of gray. There was also a color version simply called Frame Grabber. I owned the color version in the late 80’s/early 90’s but eventually sold it […]
Category Archives: Retroputing
Make an Apple // disc for BASIC week at Reddit RetroBattlestations
BASIC week at Reddit /r/retrobattlestations is over but you can relive the fun on your Apple // without any typing! Simply follow these steps to download the disk image to a new disk for your machine. Connect your laptop, tablet or phone’s headphone jack to the tape input jack on the back of your Apple […]
Create a local web-based Apple II disc server
Here are the steps I used to create a local web-based Apple II disc server. This method uses the c2t tool for converting .dsk disk images to .wav audio files suitable for playback into the tape in jack of the Apple II. The Apple Disc Server site does this with preexisting disk images already converted […]
Adding S-Video to an Atari 800XL
Recently I setup a few of the computers from my retro computing collection. Along with the Amiga 2000, Apple IIc, and Macintosh Plus was the Atari 800XL. I’ve not used it all that much and thought it deserved a little hands on time. When I acquired it I also purchased a 5 pin DIN plug […]
DIY C64 Diagnostic and Dead Test Carts
If you’ve ever attempted to repair a dead Commodore 64 beadbin, you know how frustrating it can be. You’re lucky if the machine turns on and shows something on the screen. This at least gives you some clues as to the problem. However, more often and not, you’re stuck with a blank screen. It doesn’t […]
DIY Cynthcart for Commodore 64
I’ve wanted to create my own cartridges for the C64 for a while now. I have a few old Commodore cartridge games like Clowns and Kickman that would better serve me as, say, a diagnostic cartridge or Cynthcart. These boards are ASSY 326173-01 and seem to be common so you should be able to pick […]
Code for DIY NES Game Pad to Arduino to iPad Adapter
As promised, here’s the code to connect your NES game pad to an Arduino via USB to an iPad emulating an iCade controller (whew!). // NES to USB iCade emulation to iPad // Paul Rickards // rickards@gmail.com // January 15, 2012 // Tested with Arduino 1.0 IDE // Add V-USB for Arduino to your Libraries […]
DIY NES Gamepad to iPad Adapter
In my last post, I showed that I could use my homebrew C64 USB keyboard with the iPad using the Camera Connection Kit. What was interesting was when I opened iMAME (you were lucky enough to snag it, right?) and accidentally pressed keys on the keyboard. iMAME said it was enabling iCade mode. I thought […]
C64 USB Keyboard works with iPad
Just a follow up to the C64 USB keyboard Arduino project that I made last week. I was curious if it would work on the iPad using the iPad Camera Connection kit. So I tried it out and was greeted with the error “Cannot Use Device” and “The connected USB device is not supported.” I […]
Commodore 64 Keyboard Gets The USB Treatment Thanks to Arduino
Recently I’ve been repairing a batch of broken Commodore 64’s that I scored on eBay for cheap. Out of the repairs, two boards were beyond hope but still had some usable parts on them so motherboards became donor boards. That left me with a couple empty cases and keyboards so I decided to make a […]