In March 2017 I started on a project that I eventually named “RetroMatic 2000” (as a suitably tongue-in-check nod to the naming of 1970s/80s products).
The idea was to combine a solid state floppy-drive emulator with a video converter board. You’d then have a box that could plug into an 8-bit computer and allow it to use a modern monitor and a memory stick for ease and convenience.
I entered the project in the April 2017 Retro Challenge, and ended up winning a prize for it :-)
This is an index of the posts detailing my progress:
- Retro Challenge 2017/04: my project summary
- RetroMatic 2000 update 1: video converter design
- RetroMatic 2000 update 2: HD9800 testing
- RetroMatic 2000 update 3: reprogramming the TV5725
- RetroMatic 2000 update 4: video scanlines
- RetroMatic 2000 update 5: user interface ideas
- RetroMatic 2000 update 6: HxC floppy drive emulator
- RetroMatic 2000 update 7: more HxC testing
- RetroMatic 2000 update 8: Jumpers! In an Adventure with Floppy Cables!
- RetroMatic 2000 update 9: treading water
- RetroMatic 2000 update 10: poorly HD9800 board
- RetroMatic 2000 update 11: user interface prototyping
- RetroMatic 2000 update 12: power audit
- RetroMatic 2000 update 13: knobs!
- RetroMatic 2000 update 14: HxC rotary encoder
- RetroMatic 2000 update 15: sound effects
- RetroMatic 2000 update 16: I’ve run out of pins on my Arduino!
- RetroMatic 2000 update 17: final push, and prioritising
- RetroMatic 2000 update 18: metalwork and ball bearings!
- RetroMatic 2000 update 19: soldering up the final circuit board
- RetroMatic 2000 update 20: wrap up for the Retro Challenge
- RetroMatic 2000 update 21: fixing and debugging
- RetroMatic 2000 update 22: making things permanent
- RetroMatic 2000 update 23: finishing the case
- RetroMatic 2000 update 23a: wiring up the floppy ports
- RetroMatic 2000 update 24: publishing the code
- RetroMatic 2000 update 25: repairs and YUV support