+MattelAquarius Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Here's a link to the (preliminary) instruction manual for the 32K Module. I hope to add more to this shortly, but this should cover the basics: http://www.synapsetechnologies.com/files/Aquarius32KManual.pdf Very nice! It may be messy to add this detail in the manual, but the non-S2 models will show 31037 bytes of RAM available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 It may be messy to add this detail in the manual, but the non-S2 models will show 31037 bytes of RAM available. ... and Extended BASIC will show a different amount as well. That version of the manual is a "rough draft", so I'll soon be reworking the whole thing, and I'll be sure to include all this information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MattelAquarius Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 True. For simplicity, you could stipulate that no program cart be inserted while performing the mem check. That would only leave the AQII owners with inaccurate info in the manual. Probably won't receive too many complaints from them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Questarian Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 As I couldn't decide on one color, I picked up some RGB slow rotating color changing LED's... any suggestions on a resistor value to use with it on the RAM cart? -John- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 As I couldn't decide on one color, I picked up some RGB slow rotating color changing LED's... any suggestions on a resistor value to use with it on the RAM cart? -John- Hmmm ... I wish I'd thought of that idea myself! The supply voltage from the cartridge board is 5V, so the best value of the current-limiting resistor would depend on the forward voltage rating of your LED. The easiest way to find the resistor value would be to use a calculator like this one. The LEDs that I used were rated at a maximum forward voltage of 2.4V to 3.4V (depending on the color), and a maximum forward current of 20mA, so I used 82Ω resistors for the blue, white, and green LEDs, and 150Ω resistors for the red and yellow LEDs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Questarian Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Hmmm ... I wish I'd thought of that idea myself! The supply voltage from the cartridge board is 5V, so the best value of the current-limiting resistor would depend on the forward voltage rating of your LED. The easiest way to find the resistor value would be to use a calculator like this one. The LEDs that I used were rated at a maximum forward voltage of 2.4V to 3.4V (depending on the color), and a maximum forward current of 20mA, so I used 82Ω resistors for the blue, white, and green LEDs, and 150Ω resistors for the red and yellow LEDs. Thanks! I'll have to bookmark that link! The specs on the LED's I picked are 3.0v - 3.5v, 20mA... Which calc's out as 100Ω - 82Ω. Think I'm better off leaning towards the higher side of the range? -John- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share Posted July 13, 2014 For that rating, anything in that range should be fine. Use whatever resistor you happen to have the most of in your parts drawer. The worst that can happen is that, with a larger resistor, the LED doesn't shine quite as brightly as it could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+JasonlikesINTV Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I took a stab a printing out a manual for the 32K Memory cart. Not a bad first try 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Hey, that's pretty good! I need to go back and revise that manual at some point (mainly to add some more technical information), but in the meantime, it's nice to see it in print! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+JasonlikesINTV Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 They have some nice Konica Minolta printers at my work 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 I really need to invest in a color laser printer at some point. Even a relatively inexpensive consumer model would make it much easier to print proofs of my manuals. Just out of curiosity, what type/size of paper are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chjmartin2 Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Jay, Can I still buy one of these. I can't believe I missed it! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 Yes, of course! The "collector's editions" with the LEDs are sold out, but I can still supply plenty of the black-shell editions. Just send me a PM and we'll take it from there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+JasonlikesINTV Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Yes, of course! The "collector's editions" with the LEDs are sold out, but I can still supply plenty of the black-shell editions. Just send me a PM and we'll take it from there! How many special editions did you end up selling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 How many special editions did you end up selling? All of them! I have a very limited quantity of transparent shells, so a run of thirty "collector's editions" seemed appropriate for the Aquarius's 30th anniversary, and all thirty of them sold. (There are actually 31 in existence, since I also made one for myself, but all the rest use black shells.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chouimat Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 is it still available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 is it still available? Absolutely! I've been replenishing my stock, but I'll be ready to start shipping again soon, so anyone interested is more than welcome to send me a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 Just a quick note to let everyone know that, after being unavailable for several months, the Aquarius 32K RAM Module is finally back in stock again! When I started this project, I had no definite idea of how much demand there would be for this module, so I kept my inventory fairly low. Somewhat to my own surprise, I ended up running out of my original run of boards, so I had to order more! I've received several inquiries in the meantime, so for anyone who's been waiting, the 32K RAM Module is indeed available again, and at the same price: $30 plus USPS Priority shipping. Of course, the Aquaricart is still available, too, so send me a PM if you're interested in either or both of these cartridges. As always, thanks very much! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jltursan Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Yup, I'm definitely interested! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted October 3, 2018 Author Share Posted October 3, 2018 Yup, I'm definitely interested! Great, thank you! I'll send you a PM and we'll take it from there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion1052003 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 There was never a disk drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, orion1052003 said: There was never a disk drive? The only "official" Aquarius disk drive was the Quick Disk System, released in very limited quantities, which used double-sided 2.8" media (100K total per disk). Here is more information on the Quick Disk, and here are some pictures (courtesy of Martin v.d. Steenoven) of one of the few remaining Aquarius Quick Disk drives in existence. The Quick Disk System interfaced with the Aquarius through a cartridge port adapter, which also added a few disk commands to BASIC. There was also a similar third-party interface designed for the Commodore 1541 disk drive, with its own disk commands. Both of these modified versions of BASIC are available in the Aquaricart collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airshack Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Last week I received both the Aquaricart and 32k RAM modules from @jaybird3rd. Thank you Jay for excellent packing and swift shipping. Everything arrived in working order. 100% customer satisfaction! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sixersfan105 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 On 6/16/2014 at 7:14 PM, jaybird3rd said: (By the way, I just took "Disco Fever" through the same conversion/loading process I described above, and that loaded fine for me, too.) Have you (or anyone else) played Disco Fever - specifically the file(s) bundled with Virtual Aquarius - for more than a few minutes of gameplay? I ask because, at least based on my experience playing it in Virtual Aquarius (I'm still waiting on my real Aquarius to arrive), once I get to about 20 dancers on the dance floor, the game freezes. This wasn't an isolated occurrence; it happened every time. Curious if it's an issue with the .VAQ file itself or the emulator. Has anyone else experience this and/or can anyone replicate this potential bug? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 It wouldn't surprise me if the cassette image in Virtual Aquarius is corrupted. Cassettes had no inherent error correction, so if the original cassette had a flaw, it's entirely possible that some bits may have been flipped. I seem to recall that one version of the image (not sure if it's the same one) had a man misplaced completely outside the game board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.