Finally tested my Commodore 128's

[simbalion]

After having these units for about three years, I figured it was time to check them out since I was snowed in this morning and couldn't get to work. The results? Both of my Commodore 128 units seem to work ok and I even have a spare, working power supply. I also have an AV cable for the earlier unit (built 8/85 on the tag), but no monitor to hook it into. The only issue I noticed was that the RF connections were pretty noisy when I first started out and cracking open the one unit (1986 unit uses torx heads grrrrr!) and working the on adjustment on the internal RF box made no difference. But, the more I am using the one unit, the quieter it has become on the sound. Tried a couple game cartridges and those look really good, even through the RF box on the older unit. Haven't tried them on the second one yet. I am basically impressed. Both of these units I got for free, the boxes are basically toast, one was in a damp basement, and the spare power supply was super filthy, but they all seem to work. I have a practically new 1571 disk drive I finally got working a month ago, so this might not be a bad set-up. Now, how reliable are the C128 power supplies? I have read they were designed to be more reliable than the C64 units and I must admit, they feel of better quality. An easy to access fuse, vents for heat, and they appear to be able to be taken apart and serviced if need be.

[RobertB]

simbalion wrote:

 

> Now, how reliable are the C128 power supplies? I have read they were designed to be more reliable than the C64 units and I must admit, they

> feel of better quality. An easy to access fuse, vents for heat, and they appear to be able to be taken apart and serviced if need be.

 

Because they are switching power supplies, they are much more reliable than C64 brick p.s.'s.

 

For all the reasons you mentioned,

Robert Bernardo

Fresno Commodore User Group

http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[simbalion]

Hmm, maybe the 128 is the way for me to go to get my occasional Commodore fix then. Well, besides my VIC-20.

[SSG]

Cool deal bud. It's always fun to get something you think doesn't work. Then you plug it in and are amazed.

[motrucker]

The C-128/C-128D is the best 8 bit computer made, IMHO. My real C-64 doesn't get switched on all that often. I use the C-128 for C-64 work, C-128 work, 128 GEOS, and CP/M.

My Two C-64s have a 128 PSU, or a 1764 REU PSU. Best power supplies you can use on these machines.

 

[RobertB]

My Two C-64s have a 128 PSU, or a 1764 REU PSU. Best power supplies you can use on these machines.

Unless you have a Phoenix CPS-128 power supply, which puts out 6 amps @ 5 volts.

 

The most powerful C128 p.s. I know of,

Robert Bernardo

Fresno Commodore User Group

http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[simbalion]

I must admit, the 128 does seem to have a lot going for it. If nothing else, it seems Commodore's 8-bit line went out with a bang with this model. I should see if the AV cable that works with my VIC-20 will work with my 128's.

[carlsson]

The VIC has two pins for video out. Early models differed between video low (4) and video high (5), while VIC-20CR has the same signal on both pins. Later C64, C128, Ataris etc use pin 4 for video. I'd think your cable will be fine, unless it was purposedly made for a VIC.

[simbalion]

It's just a generic, five pin cable with two RCA ends. Hmmm, might have to try it on my slightly later VIC as the colors on my earlier VIC seem a bit dull on the flatscreen compared to the RF box. (When I get the RF box to work that is..)