oberg

If it is possible - I'd like to sign up for a full kit including the PICs. Thanks!

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll take a look at them when I've gathered enough entusiasm. It's more fun building things that work... ;) ...but perhaps I shouldn't be complaining, I burned my PICs with a working JDM-module on my first try, which seems to be a success worth remebering seeing the other posts here. Regarding the brightness/constrast thing - I really don't know. Perhaps I've messed things up. All I know is that on the CORE module the pins are labeled: VS, VD, V0, RS, RW, E, D0-D7 ...and on my LCD (according to the datasheet): VSS, VDD, VBT, RS, R/W, E, D0-D7 I've just assumed that the LCD's VBT (brightness adjustment) corresponds to V0 on the CORE since Luminance is supposed to go to the backlight LEDs. I'll recheck for shorts and see if I can have misplaced my transistor (did so on the PSU circuit).

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll take a look at them when I've gathered enough entusiasm. It's more fun building things that work... ;) ...but perhaps I shouldn't be complaining, I burned my PICs with a working JDM-module on my first try, which seems to be a success worth remebering seeing the other posts here. Regarding the brightness/constrast thing - I really don't know. Perhaps I've messed things up. All I know is that on the CORE module the pins are labeled: VS, VD, V0, RS, RW, E, D0-D7 ...and on my LCD (according to the datasheet): VSS, VDD, VBT, RS, R/W, E, D0-D7 I've just assumed that the LCD's VBT (brightness adjustment) corresponds to V0 on the CORE since Luminance is supposed to go to the backlight LEDs. I'll recheck for shorts and see if I can have misplaced my transistor (did so on the PSU circuit).

Got a new LCD today. Soldered it in place - got a flash of the famous black boxes flickering - and then nothing. It just wont come alive again. I think I'll build a new Core module to see if I have more luck with a new one. B-B-Boring... Â :P

Got a new LCD today. Soldered it in place - got a flash of the famous black boxes flickering - and then nothing. It just wont come alive again. I think I'll build a new Core module to see if I have more luck with a new one. B-B-Boring... Â :P

Thanks for your suggestions! On my LCD they don't call i contrast but rather "brightness" (pin 3 "VBT" on my LCD, V0 on Thorstens drawings). I've tried adjusting the 10k-contrast pot without any signs of life from the screen. The batterytest also failed (+ to ground - to pin three, and vice versa). My plan now is to buy another (cheap) ordinary LCD (no OLED) to see if my problems are within the Core or the screen. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your suggestions! On my LCD they don't call i contrast but rather "brightness" (pin 3 "VBT" on my LCD, V0 on Thorstens drawings). I've tried adjusting the 10k-contrast pot without any signs of life from the screen. The batterytest also failed (+ to ground - to pin three, and vice versa). My plan now is to buy another (cheap) ordinary LCD (no OLED) to see if my problems are within the Core or the screen. Any other suggestions?

I've done some measuring and VSS is grounded, the VDD and VBT seem to get the voltages they should. The rest of the pins show low voltages which seem ok. (All according to the LCD-datasheet). All the pins and wirdes are connected accordingly to the wiring shown in mbhp_lcd.pdf. Strange... ??? Since I get the bootstrap upload request over MIDI I guess that my PIC is alright. But is there some other critical component of the Core-module that could be wasted that would make the LCD go out? (I'm thinking oscillator? Or can I assume that the oscillator is ok since I get the upload request?)

I've done some measuring and VSS is grounded, the VDD and VBT seem to get the voltages they should. The rest of the pins show low voltages which seem ok. (All according to the LCD-datasheet). All the pins and wirdes are connected accordingly to the wiring shown in mbhp_lcd.pdf. Strange... ??? Since I get the bootstrap upload request over MIDI I guess that my PIC is alright. But is there some other critical component of the Core-module that could be wasted that would make the LCD go out? (I'm thinking oscillator? Or can I assume that the oscillator is ok since I get the upload request?)

I'm trying to build the MB-SID - this far I've finished my first (out of 4) Core/SID pair and the optimized recycled-C64 PSU-circuit. My PICs are burnt (bootstrap 1.1b) with the JDM module without much trouble (the voltages on the JDM didn't reach the levels stated on the ucapps.de webpage - but it seemed to work up just fine anyway). So far so good... When I hook up my Core-board to MidiOX I get the bootstrap upload request but I don't seem to be able to upload MIOS. I haven't done the LED-troubleshooting TK describes yet since I was planning to get the LCD working first to see what I'm doing. BUT - right now the LCD gives me nothing. No blocks, no nothing. The wiring should be good, since I've used my multimeter to check connections from the solderingpoints at the LCD to the corresponding legs on the PIC. I'm worried that I might somehow have burned my LCD - but before I go out and buy another one. Do you have any suggestions on further troubleshooting? Thanks. The LCD is a 2x20 OLED "PDC2002M". specs: http://www.delta-opto.com.tw/PRODUCTS/PDC2002M_spec.pdf

I'm trying to build the MB-SID - this far I've finished my first (out of 4) Core/SID pair and the optimized recycled-C64 PSU-circuit. My PICs are burnt (bootstrap 1.1b) with the JDM module without much trouble (the voltages on the JDM didn't reach the levels stated on the ucapps.de webpage - but it seemed to work up just fine anyway). So far so good... When I hook up my Core-board to MidiOX I get the bootstrap upload request but I don't seem to be able to upload MIOS. I haven't done the LED-troubleshooting TK describes yet since I was planning to get the LCD working first to see what I'm doing. BUT - right now the LCD gives me nothing. No blocks, no nothing. The wiring should be good, since I've used my multimeter to check connections from the solderingpoints at the LCD to the corresponding legs on the PIC. I'm worried that I might somehow have burned my LCD - but before I go out and buy another one. Do you have any suggestions on further troubleshooting? Thanks. The LCD is a 2x20 OLED "PDC2002M". specs: http://www.delta-opto.com.tw/PRODUCTS/PDC2002M_spec.pdf

It was the 78L09 placed backwards. I must have misunderstood the datasheet I looked at... :-[

It was the 78L09 placed backwards. I must have misunderstood the datasheet I looked at... :-[

I've gone through the veroboard again, and when measuring with a 10k load the voltages read 17,7. The ground pin of the 78L09 seems connected alright and measuring on the regulator pins gives me - leg 1 to leg 2 13,4 V - leg 3 to leg 2 12,8 V When measuring from + on the bridge-rectifier to ground I get the same 18 volts - but when measuring from + to - (both on the rectifier) I get 13,4 V. Does that seem ok? [pay_c]: Ok, so I'll just stick with my 18v and let the regulators on the SID-module do the work? Thanks for all your help!

I've gone through the veroboard again, and when measuring with a 10k load the voltages read 17,7. The ground pin of the 78L09 seems connected alright and measuring on the regulator pins gives me - leg 1 to leg 2 13,4 V - leg 3 to leg 2 12,8 V When measuring from + on the bridge-rectifier to ground I get the same 18 volts - but when measuring from + to - (both on the rectifier) I get 13,4 V. Does that seem ok? [pay_c]: Ok, so I'll just stick with my 18v and let the regulators on the SID-module do the work? Thanks for all your help!

That's an idea. I'll triplecheck all my solderings.

That's an idea. I'll triplecheck all my solderings.

Thanks Doc! The pictures are colorful and all - but not that helpful I guess. :-[ I'm using a "78L09" regulator and the rectifier is a "B40C800DIP". The 18 volts are measured "as is/unloaded". I'll measure again using a resistor when I get home. Thanks!

Thanks Doc! The pictures are colorful and all - but not that helpful I guess. :-[ I'm using a "78L09" regulator and the rectifier is a "B40C800DIP". The 18 volts are measured "as is/unloaded". I'll measure again using a resistor when I get home. Thanks!

Hi all! My name is Robin Öberg. I live in Falun / Sweden and I'm currently trying to turn some old C64:s into a masterpiece.  ;) I've just completed my first veroboard-circuit trying to get the optimized C64 PSU-thing working. Everything seems ok and the LED lights up just fine. The thing is though that I get 18,1 V DC instead of the 14 V I wanted. The LEDport reads 5,2 V DC as does the other port. I've checked everything and I think I've succeded in copying Torsten´s design to veroboard. Any ideas where I could have misplaced something would be of great value. Thanks! I've included some pictures, but since the construction is kind of messy I'm not sure if they are of any help. Left view, capacitators marked. Right view, capacitators marked. Top view, voltages marked. Edit: My recycled PSU gives me 5,2 V DC and 10,5 V AC (instead of 9) - could that explain it?

Hi all! My name is Robin Öberg. I live in Falun / Sweden and I'm currently trying to turn some old C64:s into a masterpiece.  ;) I've just completed my first veroboard-circuit trying to get the optimized C64 PSU-thing working. Everything seems ok and the LED lights up just fine. The thing is though that I get 18,1 V DC instead of the 14 V I wanted. The LEDport reads 5,2 V DC as does the other port. I've checked everything and I think I've succeded in copying Torsten´s design to veroboard. Any ideas where I could have misplaced something would be of great value. Thanks! I've included some pictures, but since the construction is kind of messy I'm not sure if they are of any help. Left view, capacitators marked. Right view, capacitators marked. Top view, voltages marked. Edit: My recycled PSU gives me 5,2 V DC and 10,5 V AC (instead of 9) - could that explain it?

I'm currently trying to put together the PSU-circuit on a veroboard. Do you guys have any pictures of yours? It'd be really helpful to see some other designs before soldering my components in place. ;)

Hej! Jag sitter i Falun/Sverige och håller på att dra igång ett SID-bygge. Har ett gäng C64:or här och ska börja beställa komponenter och delar från lite olika ställen - framför allt från Reichhelt har jag tänkt. Jag återkommer med lite rapporter när bygget kommit igång.

That's a great idea you know. That way I'll have the best of the two worlds (or the raisins in the cake as you would say in swedish). I think I'll go for that. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I'm planning a Midibox SID-project and I'd like to know which SIDchip you would(/did) use? (I've tried the search function but didn't find and posts about this - please give me a link or whatever if you have been through this discussion before.) When I bought my Hardsid (www.hardsid.com) I went for the 8580 since that would give me better signal/noice-ratio, better filtering etc... But now I'm not so sure what to use for this project. What advantages does the 6581 have? (Besides being the _real_ thing that is.) I'd really apreciate to hear what chip you all did choose when you built your Sidbox - and why. Thanks! /robin - Sweden