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RC 2024/10 Entry List | |
======================== | |
Category: General | |
------------------------ | |
urbancamo | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Commodore 64 | |
Project: | |
Build my C64X into a workable machine and have a play. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
Louis Paul | |
Avatar | |
Platform: x86 real mode | |
Project: | |
This is my first entry and I'm a software guy, so the challenge is to | |
make a Befunge-93 interpreter targeting the x86 real mode. My plan is | |
to build the interpreter, test it on various emulators, put it on the | |
sectors of the pendrive, boot it on real machine and use it, bypassing | |
the operating system. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
europlus | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Apple ][ | |
Project: | |
Conduct performance comparisons between the FujiApple, CFFA3000, | |
Floppy Emu, wDrive, boots, and original Focus Card (with CF card in | |
IDE adaptor), using interfaces ranging across Liron card, softSP, | |
native SmartPort, Disk II Interface/5.25 Drive/IO Controller cards | |
(where appropriate) for comparisons. Aiming to assess europlus, //e | |
platinum, IIc, IIc+ and IIgs (all unaccelerated in first instance). | |
Will try to assess impact of .woz vs .dsk vs .po (where appropriate) | |
and .2mg vs .hdv (where appropriate). Interested to see if there are | |
differences across interfaces, machines, devices and image type. If I | |
can secure more device/interface types, I will aim and assess, them, | |
too. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
stepleton | |
Avatar | |
Platform: PERQ 2T2 | |
Project: | |
A friend and I will try to get as far as we can in reviving a very | |
crusty PERQ 2T2 graphical workstation from the early 1980s. PERQ was | |
basically an attempt to realise the Xerox Alto concept as a commercial | |
product while Xerox was still asleep at the wheel. For the hardware | |
restorer, PERQ presents a real challenge, with hundreds of discrete | |
ICs spread across three large circuit boards - and that's just the | |
start! We' ll be troubleshooting all manner of gremlins with our | |
trusty 'scope with 16 logic inputs and a multimeter of course. Who | |
knows if we'll see it boot? | |
What's all of this got to do with RC2014? Not a whole lot... but the | |
PERQ 2T2 I/O board does use a Z80 as an I/O processor, and I verified | |
that it was working by plugging it into my RC2014 of course! | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
trcwm | |
Avatar | |
Platform: 68000/FPGA | |
Project: | |
I always wanted to get some 68000 experience but I lack the hardware. | |
So I need to a 68000 core running on an FPGA and get Fuzix running. | |
The main challenge is interfacing the 68000 core with SDRAM while | |
still being performant. We'll see how it goes! | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Mark C | |
Avatar | |
Platform: ET-3400 Microprocessor Trainer | |
Project: | |
1. Build a Compact Flash Hard Drive Interface | |
2. Install the FLEX 6800 Operating System onto the CF Card and boot it | |
from the ET-3400. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
CDP1802 | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Sharp MZ-80K | |
Project: | |
I love my Sharp MZ-80K2. I bought an expansion box for it some years | |
ago but still have no cards. Why not try my hand at making something | |
for it? I'd enjoy something like a serial card, I'd love a way to | |
control my model trains or use wifi. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Digicool Things | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) / CreatiVision | |
Project: | |
I’ve been working on a re-Creation of the early 80’s 6502 based | |
CreatiVision TV Gaming Console / Home Computer, using my flexible and | |
configurable MECB based 8-bit retro computing platform. Initially, I | |
replicated the hardware on MECB, so that CreatiVision Software | |
successfully runs, unmodified. Then, during August / September, I | |
developed the relatively complex Controller interface, to allow | |
interfacing a PS/2 Keyboard and Atari Joysticks to my CreatiVision | |
re-Creation. The Controller also supports interfacing to an original | |
CreatiVision Console to allow upgrading or replacing original | |
Controllers. During October, I plan to further develop this project. | |
My immediate plan is to next develop a Cherry MX based CreatiVision | |
specific mechanical Keyboard. This is to replace just using a generic | |
PS/2 Keyboard with my Controller. Instead, creating a CreatiVision | |
specific layout & keycap legend 48 key Mechanical Keyboard. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
matseng | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Custom implementation of OISC SUBLEQ machine | |
Project: | |
I plan to finish up my, by now, 1 year old project to build a discrete | |
74-series TTL-based 24 bit SUBLEQ computer. As of yet misses some | |
parts to actually make it execute instructions, but a lot of hardware | |
is already in place. If I get time left (fat chance!) I might also | |
finish up the last 10% of the Tiny BASIC interpreter I've written in | |
SUBLEQ assembly. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
PPC_505 (AKA Ortho'sDeli) | |
Avatar | |
Platform: All platforms capable of handling Web 1.1 pages | |
Project: | |
I will be "updating" our hobby group's website to be Web 1.1 | |
compatible. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
TiredGeezer303 | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Intel Macbook 1,1 (2006) - IBM NetVista Pentium 4 (2003 ish) | |
Project: | |
I want to have both systems running and trying to use them as my | |
primary systems for the month of October for 'work' (maybe just | |
vnc-ing into work computer) and fun at home (email, music, games, | |
entertainment) Tried to get it going last year with the same IBM sytem | |
but failed to make progress. I already have some upgrades I would like | |
to try. Trying again this year. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Hack In Days of Futur Past | |
Avatar | |
Platform: All platforms | |
Project: | |
The Hacking Museum will be planning and creating Retro Capture the | |
Flag Challenges (RetroCTF) and hands-on hacking experiences in | |
October. We will be focusing on "The Retro Software Protection | |
Challenge," intended to recreate the classic era of software | |
protection and cracking. | |
The Hacking Museum seeks to bridge the gap between past and present by | |
tinkering with a wide array of old computers and networking equipment. | |
By practicing historical hacking techniques on authentic hardware, we | |
aim to enrich understanding of the field's origins and inspire future | |
innovations in cybersecurity. | |
Join us in bringing the history of hacking back to life! | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
ecliptik | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Palm Zire | |
Project: | |
Using my Palm Zire PDA on a daily basis, replacing my iPhone's | |
Calendar and Notes app. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Paolo Amoroso | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Medley Interlisp | |
Project: | |
Develop a NoteCards extension for visiting websites. The extension | |
will open sites on the World-Wide Web using the browser of the host | |
operating system. | |
NoteCards is a 1980s hypermedia system created at Xerox PARC as an | |
application program running on Medley Interlisp, the development | |
environment and system software of Xerox Lisp workstations. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Sean Billings | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Dragon 32 and possibly ZX Spectrum +2/3 | |
Project: | |
Pew! Pew! | |
I haven't done anything for ages with my Retro collection, so I am | |
hoping this will motivate me to get on with it! | |
I intend to (Fix first) and then Modify a ZX Spectrum Light-gun to | |
work on a Dragon 32, and then explore if a simple game or demo could | |
be written. If all goes well (or badly) I may see what I can do with | |
it on the ZX Spectrum. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
xiled | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Sun Microsystems Ultra 10 workstation and Netra X1 server. | |
Project: | |
Further adventures with SunOS, Solaris, and Sun Microsystems hardware. | |
This is a continuation of the explorations I did for the Old Computer | |
Challenge 2023 in gopherspace. | |
I read ecliptik's phost in gopherspace and checked out the surface web | |
RC2024 site and the archives. Thought it would be fun to participate. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
Tim Holyoake | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Sharp MZ-80K | |
Project: | |
To complete a robust Sharp MZ-80K emulator on a Raspberry Pi Pico | |
microcontroller. The project is partially working at present, but | |
requires significant effort to achieve a first release by 31st | |
October. It will use the VGA board reference architecture implemented | |
by the Pimoroni VGA demo base board. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
rafaelmartins | |
Avatar | |
Platform: MOS 6581 / 8580, maybe RC2014 | |
Project: | |
I want to implement a high-fidelity SID replacement using a modern | |
microcontroller (either AVR DB or STM32G4 series, to be decided). I | |
may use reSID, or just implement custom code based on the sample | |
waveform files, depending on the chosen microcontroller. If time | |
permits, I may create a RC2014 sound module similar to SID-Ulator | |
using it. Nothing 100% new, but as a synth lover, I want to learn more | |
about these chips! | |
Please note that "high fidelity" means "as computationally precise as | |
possible" and not "sound exactly the same as the original chips" :-) | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
conceitedjerk | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Sun Sparc IPX, Powerbook 280c | |
Project: | |
After a decade+ away from all things Retro, I'm going to tackle two | |
projects I've been putting off for a long time: replacing the HDs in | |
my Sparc IPX workstation and Powerbook 280c with SD card based | |
solutions. After that, it's showtime! | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
RetroCheng | |
Avatar | |
Platform: CP/M-86 | |
Project: | |
I will install, and run, CP/M-86 on an old Zenith SupersPort (not a | |
typo) 8088 laptop. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
thegirlg33k | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Sharp MZ-700 | |
Project: | |
I purchased a Sharp MZ-700 from Japan because it had 2 wires and a | |
switch sticking out the back of it. In opening it, I found what looks | |
to be an internal PCG add-on for the system. None of my MZ-700s are | |
fully working, so I want to focus on repairing a system, testing out | |
the possible PCG with software that can utilize its capabilities, and | |
then trying to clone it for others to enjoy! | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
Xav101 | |
Avatar | |
Platform: SGI IRIX, Onyx350 InfinitePerformance | |
Project: | |
Old workstation systems often don't get much of a chance any more to | |
do work because of lack of software and resources. The goal is to use | |
SGI IRIX to perform a structural analysis of a production component | |
using Finite Element Analysis software and to produce a report on the | |
results. Additional tasks include making old and new CAD software | |
interoperate and possibly modeling a production component under IRIX. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Digitalrampage | |
Avatar | |
Platform: DEC | |
Project: | |
I am challenging myself to get a RL02 or TS05 connected to a PDP or | |
VAX for use! | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
JKnightandKARR | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Zenith Z-Star EX/Green 753 | |
Project: | |
Repair Green 753 drive, a game pad with issues, battery packs for | |
both, and still trying to put IDE DOM in Z-Star | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Mars | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Atmel AVR | |
Project: | |
Long-running 8-bit custom computer | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
Pendleton115 | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Apple Macintosh SE/30 | |
Project: | |
Restoration and upgrade of SE/30 | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
ctb | |
Avatar | |
Platform: Classic Macintosh | |
Project: | |
To find the most stable and useful computer that can bridge most | |
Macintoshes from 1984 to now. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
Category: Halloween Hacks | |
------------------------ | |
epooch | |
Avatar | |
Platform: MC14500b ICU, MC6800 | |
Project: | |
Inspired by avretro's RC2022 robot, I want to make a similar project: | |
an MC14500b (1-bit processor) based line following robot, but with a | |
Halloween theme. I will try to keep it simple with 1980's era | |
components. | |
I also want to get a Motorola MicroModule (MC6800) working with at | |
least a debugger and figure out a serial connection to my Elenco | |
6802D5 (rebranded MEK6802D5). | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Matteo Trevisan aka Toolkitman | |
Avatar | |
Platform: A600gs | |
Project: | |
Some Halloween Drawings in PPaint a600gs that will become a game | |
developed by me for AMIGA 68k in these few days of retrochallenge | |
2024/10. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Category: RC2014 | |
------------------------ | |
Olav | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 | |
Project: | |
I want to learn more about how computers work, so by using the RC2014 | |
computer as a platform, I am trying to write my own BIOS/Simple OS | |
from scratch. My goal for the RetroChallenge 2024 is to add some | |
storage to the system, and I want to make it easier to transfer | |
programs between my modern computer and the RC2014. To achieve this, I | |
need to learn how the FAT32 filesystem works and implement it on my | |
RC2014, and then make a simple command line program so that I will be | |
able to browse and run programs from the CF card. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
Robert Price | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 | |
Project: | |
I hope to learn more about hardware design and Z80 assembly language | |
on my RC2014. I am looking for something achievable, so I plan to try | |
to add one to two rotary encoders and to be able to read them from | |
software. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
socketwench | |
Avatar | |
Platform: rc2014 | |
Project: | |
A hackable, 3D printed expansion box for the rc2014 Blue Box | |
enclosure. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
semach.the.monkey | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 / ZX81 + others | |
Project: | |
Back in 2016 I started work on making a ZX81 module for the RC2014 | |
that would utilise the ROM, RAM and CPU to turn the RC2014 in to a | |
ZX81. I made very little progress on that 8 years ago, but this year I | |
will focus on it to get somethng working. See | |
https://rc2014.co.uk/1352/retro-challenge-102016-still-a-work-in-progress/ | |
for the latest update. | |
Any down time waiting for components or scratching my head will be | |
spent introducing some of my retro collection to my RC2014. Things | |
like the Z88, PPC640, Portfolio, QL, Psion Organiser II and even | |
Spectrum with Interface 1 all have serial ports which _should_ enable | |
communication. We'll see... | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
M Bordet | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 | |
Project: | |
In C. In C. In RC. Attempting to build a custom MIDI sequencer in C | |
for performance of Terry Riley's 'In C' using old synths powered by an | |
RC2014. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
shieladixon | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 | |
Project: | |
A couple of years ago I made a MIDI module for the RC2014. There are a | |
few out there and it works, but the design could be better. I used the | |
SIO2 port B, meaning that there's a bit of setting up and it'll only | |
work on RC2014s with an SIO2. I'd like to design a 'mk2' which has its | |
own era-appropriate serial chip (68B50 or similar) clocked at the | |
right speed for MIDI, so that it'll 'just work' in any RC2014 and | |
it'll be easy to access on its own hardware port. | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
morecat_lab | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 | |
Project: | |
Building MIDI Interface for RC2014. The goal of this project is to | |
build a music system with RC2014 computer and external (legacy) MIDI | |
box | |
Status: Making Progress... | |
________________________ | |
@jskists | |
Avatar | |
Platform: RC2014 | |
Project: | |
The RC2014 has a CamelForth port on its ROM. This entry aims to | |
finally finish the upgraded version with disk support, Forth-2012 | |
compliance, ... and maybe add graphics support. I will be primarily | |
debugging and documenting the ROM and having to refactor code as I go | |
for Forth-2012 compliance. | |
Status: | |
________________________ | |
.. | |