Ya, Commodore 128 from the wild.

[Cobra Commander]

I'm excited to score a boxed C128 from one of my favorite thrifts today for $30. I had some classic comps in the past, most were a bust, others not that great. So now I got a better reason to hang in the classic computer forum other than jealousy. Throw up some of your favorite links or threads for the noob plz.

 

[RobertB]

There is Bil Herd's website, http://c128.com

 

Truly,

Robert Bernardo

Fresno Commodore User Group

http://videocam.net.au/fcug

July 26-27 Commodore Vegas Expo v10

http://www.portcommodore.com

[Cobra Commander]

Thanks Robert, I was just reading some of your posts over at commodore.ca. This C= is my best vintage computer find yet, I almost never buy hardware online and prefer the live discovery experience. Now to find some peripherals.

[Rhomaios]

I'm excited to score a boxed C128 from one of my favorite thrifts today for $30. I had some classic comps in the past, most were a bust, others not that great. So now I got a better reason to hang in the classic computer forum other than jealousy. Throw up some of your favorite links or threads for the noob plz.

 

 

Nice find! The 128 is what I want as well. Did you get the one with S-video out?

[RickR]

Nice find, great price. Cheers!

[X900BattleGrape]

I highly recommend lemon64.com and there's a wealth of information, great forums and knowledgeable folks.

[ApolloBoy]

The 128 is what I want as well. Did you get the one with S-video out?

They all have chroma/luma output if I'm not mistaken.

[CatPix]

Indeed they all have it (except maybe the C128DCR, as it's a "cost reduced"?) They also have a RGBi output for the high resolution mode; which need either a Commodore screen with RGBi input, a CGA compatible display... Or, a SCART TV (but you'd need to make the cable, I don't think it was made even in Europe, or maybe by third parties only?)

[Cobra Commander]

Wasn't liking what the RF looked like. S video or RGB sound a lot better when I get some time.

[CatPix]

the RGB is an oddball on this computer. From what I read, the RGBi output works only in high resolution mode; and the S-video for the low resolution 128 mode and C64 mode.

 

It's kinda like the high resolution mode on the Atari ST, which is even worse since you need a display able to handle 70Htz (progressive or interlaced, I can't recall, but either are incompatible with SCART RGB anyway)

[thegamezmaster]

Congrats on the score! And I second Lemon64, great site!

[Cobra Commander]

The floppy drive I buy for it may cost more than the purchase price.

[turret]

cool find a 128 i always felt they didn't get the attention they deserved

[Hatta]

For the most part there's not much that uses the C128 mode. Still I like mine a lot. The power supply is more reliable, and the keyboard is better. One of the best uses for the C128 is the Elite hack that runs about 50% faster than the original. Really cuts down on the flicker, which makes the game so much smoother. Best version I've played, but I haven't played the BBC original.

[CatPix]

One good point too is (for the C128D released in Europe) is the build-in floppy reader. No mess of cables to hunt down, and no slow-as-hell data reading.

[Hatta]

Good luck picking up a C128D in the wild for $30!

[Zap!]

the RGB is an oddball on this computer. From what I read, the RGBi output works only in high resolution mode; and the S-video for the low resolution 128 mode and C64 mode.

 

It's kinda like the high resolution mode on the Atari ST, which is even worse since you need a display able to handle 70Htz (progressive or interlaced, I can't recall, but either are incompatible with SCART RGB anyway)

 

I have a PVM with SCART. What would be the proper cable to order for my 128? I'd love to hook it up via RGB to the PVM.

[carlsson]

There are cables on eBay. However beware that the DE9 connector has two types of outputs: both monochrome composite video and the RGBI TTL signal. Many sellers just tap the mono signal and combine with the colour composite signal or possibly S-Video, which means the 80 column VDC will be displayed in boring monochrome instead of colour.

 

A proper cable would include some sort of voltage divider (a handful of resistors or better) to convert the RGBI to analog RGB signals.

 

This appears to be the wrong kind of cable: http://www.ebay.de/itm/361509837112

This appears to be the right kind of cable: http://www.ebay.de/itm/361509837124

 

Notice both cables are from the same reseller, and identically priced. It doesn't say if the colour cable has the low voltage signal to automatically switch to RGB mode, otherwise your PVM must have a button or another option to manually switch between RGB and composite/S-Video mode. The first cable with monochrome video obviously doesn't need a such switch signal, as it would operate with composite video all the time.

[Zap!]

There are cables on eBay. However beware that the DE9 connector has two types of outputs: both monochrome composite video and the RGBI TTL signal. Many sellers just tap the mono signal and combine with the colour composite signal or possibly S-Video, which means the 80 column VDC will be displayed in boring monochrome instead of colour.

 

A proper cable would include some sort of voltage divider (a handful of resistors or better) to convert the RGBI to analog RGB signals.

 

This appears to be the wrong kind of cable: http://www.ebay.de/itm/361509837112

This appears to be the right kind of cable: http://www.ebay.de/itm/361509837124

 

Notice both cables are from the same reseller, and identically priced. It doesn't say if the colour cable has the low voltage signal to automatically switch to RGB mode, otherwise your PVM must have a button or another option to manually switch between RGB and composite/S-Video mode. The first cable with monochrome video obviously doesn't need a such switch signal, as it would operate with composite video all the time.

 

Thank you for the link, I may just take a chance and order that. The other day I ordered this, which I wish I didn't now:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172442778181?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

That will (hopefully) work, but it's obviously "only" s-video, and 40 column not 80. As for if my PVM has a switch, it gets tricky. The SCART cable is connected to its BNC connectors, and they are only RGB and component. The switch on the front is RGB/component. Composite and s-video have their own separate connectors. That worries me that none of these cables will work.

[carlsson]

Gotcha! In that case, you likely have no use of the cable you ordered. As you may already know, SCART is a connector with multiple signals including composite video, S-Video or RGB (one of the pins have dual uses so it is either of the two latter), stereo audio both in and out, various blanking/switching signals and more. It means a cable designed to carry composite video would need a female SCART to RCA converter, which is backwards from what we normally use over here. The cable I linked to would work with 80 column VDC mode, but be pointless for 40 column mode. You would need two separate cables connected to the PVM instead of one with a toggle switch.

[Zap!]

Gotcha! In that case, you likely have no use of the cable you ordered. As you may already know, SCART is a connector with multiple signals including composite video, S-Video or RGB (one of the pins have dual uses so it is either of the two latter), stereo audio both in and out, various blanking/switching signals and more. It means a cable designed to carry composite video would need a female SCART to RCA converter, which is backwards from what we normally use over here. The cable I linked to would work with 80 column VDC mode, but be pointless for 40 column mode. You would need two separate cables connected to the PVM instead of one with a toggle switch.

 

That's bad news for me, but kind of expected after your first reply. I'll see if I can cancel, as it hasn't been shipped yet. Since the PVM has an S-Video port right on the back, my best option may be to get a regular S-video cable. It will only be 40 column, but 80 column isn't used much it seems anyway.

 

Or, I can just order an S-video to SCART cable, which would make the cable I ordered work. I think.

[carlsson]

Interesting seller, located in Sweden but won't ship to Sweden. I think that is the infamous reseller "Spelfyndet" under a different alias.

 

In any case, what you would need is an adapter that takes SCART input and breaks it out as S-Video and sound, possibly composite video as well. One of these might work, but if you can cancel the first order you could get a cable with S-Video directly instead of going through yet more adapter plus that you still need your own S-Video cable to connect to the adapter:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291286380501

 

Good luck!

[motrucker]

A couple of imortant points - Make sure you get a 1571 drive, so you take advantage of the faster speed, and greater capacity. The 1571 is the best drive Commodore designed and built. Next thing is the 80 column video. I'm not sure you can even access the CP/M mode without it (My 128 is in storage right now - space problems). The 80 columns on the 1080 monitor I use is great. Once you see it, you will not want to go back . Software like GEOS 128 is a world different in 80 columns.

You should also get an REU for the C-128. The 1750 will ad 512Kb of RAM to use as a RAM disk. Both GEOS and CP/M will fly with the added RAM. Many 128 mode programs will use the extra RAM if its there too. I use Paperback Writer, witch will use the RAM, and BB Writer also.

The C-128, C-128D, and C-128 Dcr are the best 8 bit computer made, IMHO, but with out the 80 column mode, you're only using half of the computer.

 

 

 

[carlsson]

Yes, CP/M runs in 40 column mode if you must but it never was designed for that resolution.

[motrucker]

Yes, CP/M runs in 40 column mode if you must but it never was designed for that resolution.

I wasn't sure, so I put it that way. I know that CP/M will use the REU (with the later version) and access it is drive "M". Doing that make CP/M quite useable.