mo@seismo.UUCP (Mike O'Dell) (12/05/83)
I am now the proud owner of a C64 which I "came into" for next to nothing. However, it is only the keyboard - no tape unit, no nothing. I would like to get it going for as close to nothing else as possible. I have the big, thick book with the schematics and have been looking at the situation. I think I can cobble up a tape recorder interface, but without knowing more about the "real" one, I don't know whether it would be able to read tapes that I buy. I would like to find a source for such technical information. I also already own a Microline 83A printer which I would like to interface, again, building rather than buying. I heard a rumor that one of the rags published an article on building a C64 serial bus interface for a parallel printer, but haven't been able to find it. Can anyone out there provide any information on these areas, or pointers to sources? Oh yes, one other question. Doesn't anyone out there know how the HESWARE FORTH64 implementation compares with others available for the C64. One thing in its favor is that it plugs in as a cartridge, but other than that, all I know is that it claims to be essentially FIGforth and it costs about $45. Can I do better than this?? I am interested in forth as a way to do low-level programming (device control, etc) without descending into the depths of 6502 assembler code. Any help appreciated, -Mike O'Dell
dollas@uiuccsb.UUCP (12/14/83)
#R:seismo:-44000:uiuccsb:16800002:000:1304
uiuccsb!dollas Dec 13 17:13:00 1983
With respect to the cassette recorder you can do as much as your
cassette recorder can do. The interface itself is pretty cheap (you may
read the respective articles in September's issue of Computers and
Electronics -there are two designs there). The hardware is pretty easy
to do. The setting of the volume levels and/or the tone level on the
other hand might take a while (don't give up though - it just takes
patience). As far as the tapes that are made by companies,
my $20 GE cassette player will never read them, but my roomate's
stereo cassette player/am/fm/sw radio has no problem doing that.
Another peculiarity of my "el cheapo" cassette recorder is that it likes
mostly Chromium tapes (no problem- I got a ninety minute tape and used it
to load the shells of some 3-for-a-dollar tapes).
If you have problems that I may be able to help send me some mail, I
will be glad to help you. Also, I have my own interface design (which is
the basic 7414 chip plus an amplifier since the signal of my tape player
comes out too weak) you are welcome to it.
Apostolos Dollas
Dept. of Computer Science
University of Illinois
..!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uiuccsb!dollas