TRS-80 CoCo2 - First Look, Retrobright, and CoCoEPROMpak build for
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2020
- Ep 16 : The TRS-80 Color Computer 2 - deep cleaning and retrobright of the case and keyboard, plus building, programming and testing the open-source CoCoEPROMpak multicart.
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CCC-to-BIN - inanis.net/color-computer-ccc... - Наука та технологія
Great video.
The .CCC files are actually raw .ROM files which you can just rename the .CCC files to .ROM and then you can directly load those files into the Xgpro software that is used with the XGecu Pro programmers like the one you were using at the start of your video.
The .ccc to .bin converter you were using was for making it easier to load those ROM images from Disk Basic or Cassette as the CLOADM or LOADM commands require the header/footers.
If you would like to upgrade the RF modulator to a composite module you can find one here:
thezippsterzone.com/video-adapters/
Also you might find you will want a CoCoSDC:
You have a choice of where you wish to buy one from at:
boysontech.com/boysontech-a-second-source-for-coco-sdc/
or
thezippsterzone.com/2020/06/25/the-coco-sdc/
If you want a Case for the CoCoSDC you can print one:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:1492619
or you can contact John Strong through the color computer facebook group:
facebook.com/groups/2359462640
Also you can find other useful CoCo related stuff at:
imacoconut.com/
Also there are a few CoCo podcasts as well.
We also have a discord server where a few of us discuss the Color Computer and projects going on at:
discord.cocotalk.live
In case you are interested.
You may also find this website useful as well for some game information.
www.lcurtisboyle.com/nitros9/index.html
There is also a computer club that is dedicated to the Tandy Radio Shack Color Computer's as well.
www.glensideccc.com/
They hold a show once a year called 'Annual "Last" Chicago CoCoFEST'
Fantastic info, thanks David! I will try renaming the .ccc to .rom and see how it goes. I had looked at the composite modules earlier but they seem to be out of stock last time I looked. I just recently won an auction for a CoCo3 which hasn't even arrived yet, but when it does I'll make use of its RGB output :) I will probably need that CoCoSDC if I'm going to get the most out of the systems, huh?
@@retrobitstv ,
Yes the CoCoSDC is probably one of the most important current products you can have for your CoCo.
Since the CoCoSDC emulates the floppy controller itself the compatibility with software that tries to talk to the WD177x, WD179x, or the WD279x FDC chips directly is much better.
Though your best bet is just do your research and get feed back :)
I have CoCoSDC's for my CoCo 3, CoCo 2, and Dragon Tano.
Otherwise there are lots of options you can have for the TRS CoCo's and it is something you have to decide what you might want to do or if you want to collect it all lol.
Lots and lots of stuff :)
Ran a BBS off of a COCO II for a few years. Lots of fun back in the day. No, it wasn't a Commie, an Apple, or an Atari. They were indeed better computers. But the COCO was much more capable than people thought. Underrated machine.
the CoCo2 was my first computer. Or more accurately, it was the first computer my dad had.
I can try to dredge up some old memories, but I can't guarantee being able to answer anything, but it was 40 years ago or so.
This could have easily been my computer a long time ago. I had the coco2 and a floppy drive. My dad gave it to the Goodwill.
@16:44 I would get magazines that had code for games in them and I would type them in and save them to a cassette. One of my favorites was a skiiing game where you went down a hill and avoided trees. You goal was to hit the ice for that gave you more yardage. The longer your yardage was (before you hit a tree) the higher your score.
My family had that one. I learned BASIC on it as a young kid.
I love your channel. I get the chance to see computers I don't know existed, couldn't afford or wasn't available in my country. :-)
OMG! Someone actually used their brain and used a vacuum to clean the keyboard base! That has to be a first for me and I've watched a lot of SepTandy this month! Good on ya lad! Subbed!
Excellent video! Kudos to figuring out the EPROMpak, I'd have been pulling my hair out over that one!
Nice Video. We were a Commodore house so it is nice to see this in action. I didn't know anybody that had a CoCo. We did have TRS-80 Model III's, in our computer lab in High School and that was the only place I used them. I wasn't a fan of their home computers but I did like the Model IIIs at school. They were great for text games.
Thanks! Yea, similar situation here. I didn't know anyone with a CoCo either and subsequently I didn't even know they existed until later :)
@14:00 (ish) Pretty clever using the VCR for TV connection
great video! I enjoyed your montages.
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback :)
Hello. Great video. I remember starting to learn computer programming using our Color Computer 2 when I was a kid. The book that it came with, "Getting Started With Extended Color BASIC", was really excellent for me then because it explained everything all the way down to the individual keys to press. And it had cool little illustrations. I actually think that computer with that book is still to this day a decent way to learn computer programming. And although I never got into it at the time, I have heard that assembly programming for the 6809 was very pleasant due to excellent features.
I also remember playing Dungeons of Daggorath, Dragonfire and Color Baseball on it. Anyway, good job cleaning it off and retrobriting. Looked almost brand new.
Thanks! Yea, it's too bad that the comprehensive manuals that machines used to come with are a thing of the past. But then again, all the information you could ever want is at your fingertips with the Internet now so I guess there's that :) I wish I had learned more assembly back in the day, but at that age I was more interested in playing games than I was programming them!
I have one of these on my workbench right now, this was a nice overview. I come from a Commodore and Atari background, so this is actually my first Coco experience. It's only fitting that I'm working on it in #SepTandy!
Same here, mostly Commodore and Apple II. There's still a lot to learn about this machine and I'd like to get some disk based software going and play around with OS-9 at some point. Good luck with your own CoCo project!
@16:02 wow, way to figure it out!
If they only thought of providing even just one more sound channel, they could have really made some noise!
Dungeons of daggoroth. Attack right.. attack right.. ar..ar..al..al... heart attack.. dead. Thats my memory.
Sounds about right!
That script you demonstrated was by Joe of Joe's Computer Museum, who also makes videos. Check his stuff out: ua-cam.com/channels/yfwZvTPPJV4peBHupd6Ckw.html
Will do, thanks!
The sound is actually quite versatile but limited by the fact it ties up the CPU. I wrote a 4 voice sound program by using a small wave table to be fed into the DAC. 4 separate waves could be generated at the same time by simply adding them together before feeding the DAC. It could also produce voice output using wave tables. None of this useful for video games because it's too hard to drive the sound and the game at the same time.
You ever going to keep your word and do a full review?
I haven't forgotten about it! I've been looking for a good deal on an eBay multipak and rs232 expansion so I can do a full and thorough test. Should probably pick up a CoCo SDC at some point too.
You've broken the guarantee tag they'll never fix that for you if something goes wrong.
Ed Snyder over at thezippsterzone.com/video-adapters/ has composite mods if you want to add composite, but I recommend CoCoVGA (www.cocovga.com), which adds higher resolution text and graphics modes and more colors plus VGA output that can be upscaled to HDMI and gives amazing perfect display on a modern tv or monitor. You can also pick up CoCoSDC which gives you the ability to store to SD cards.
Your graphics remind me of The 8-Bit Guy.
Commodore 8-bits are my favorite machines of the era so I use the C64 colors and fonts quite often, as do a lot of other UA-cam channels :)
@@retrobitstv I meant the graphics where you put things on a sheet for us and compare chips or something.
@@infinitecanadian Ahh, I do most of those in Google Sheets!
Crap you even have the TRS-80 floppy drive.