I have a pinout of the RS232 port (and some details) at:
http://www.retrobytes.org/pinouts/serial/c64_user-port_as_rs-232_serial.txt
I don't believe you can reliably write C64 disks with a PC floppy drive,
however there is a cable/software available to connect the commodore
floppy drive directly to your PC. As far as sites, a quick web search will
probably turn up more sites than you can read in a month...it's a thriving
community.
Cheers,
Aaron
On Wed, 15 Mar 2000 liste_at_artware.qc.ca wrote:
> So I poked my nose into the local Salvation Army, on the off chance they
> have one of those 60s style stereo "furniture" things. The kind with a
> radio, turntable, red velvet booze drawer and obligatory lounge hits LP,
> all disguised as a small sideboard.
>
> They didn't, but they did have a C-64. Now I'm young enough that the
> first PC I got to play on was an IBM PCjr. So I know very little
> about C-64s. However, 10 dollars canadian got me :
>
> C-64 Personal Computer
> 2 x 1541 floppy drives (one w/ lever, one w/ "door")
> MPS 1200 dot matrix printer w/ tractor feed
> Joystick (wico)
> power supply, some cables, manual for C-64 (not PC) and monitor
>
> All the above is dirty, though no scratches nor dents.
>
> Conspicously missing :
> Monitor
> Software
>
> I've tested the C-64 by plugging in a floppy drive in, turning everything
> on, and blind-typing load "foo",8. Red LED on the drive came on, noises
> were made, red LED started a blinken.
>
> When I turn the printer on, the LEDs come on, the out of paper LED
> flashes. FF causes the (imaginary) paper to feed. LF works also. This
> printer reminds a lot of my old Epson LX-80.
>
> So now the call for help. What sites would you recomend to learn about
> hacking these things? Is there software available? Can one get floppy
> images and write them w/ a 5.25" drive on modern PCs? When I get a TV or
> monitor rigged up, I'd like to learn 6502 assembler (I already know z80
> and 8086 assembler).
>
> There is a port marked "serial" on back. I'm guessing that all the
> periferals plug into this. Floppy drives and printer. (Hmm... if the
> MPS-1200 is a serial printer, could one get a converter and plug it into a
> wyse 85 or vt220?)
>
> The other thing I would like to do is hook it up to my main computer
> (prolly as a serial terminal) and then get on the net. I aim to recreate
> the authentic B1FF experience. :) The manual leads me to believe the
> serial port on a C-64 isn't compatible w/ RS-232, however. :(
>
> -Philip
>
Received on Wed Mar 15 2000 - 00:23:10 GMT