Fired up the old portable Commodore 64
- Thread starter billcu
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tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
You guys and your fancy multimedia PCs..
The 8088 clone I started out with just had the PC Speaker, and 4-color CGA graphics..
Although I don't have that computer anymore, I do have something of a computer museum in my basement. The most similar being a PCJr, which stepped up the multimedia game just a bit. (Specifically to compete with that Amiga, I'd guess.)
The 8088 clone I started out with just had the PC Speaker, and 4-color CGA graphics..
Although I don't have that computer anymore, I do have something of a computer museum in my basement. The most similar being a PCJr, which stepped up the multimedia game just a bit. (Specifically to compete with that Amiga, I'd guess.)
I actually didn't buy this one, I had the regular keyboard model with cassette tape storage. A friend of mine gave this to me years ago.
I googled it, this shows the price. This article says there is 1 known to exist in working order in the US, they need to update that to 2.
I googled it, this shows the price. This article says there is 1 known to exist in working order in the US, they need to update that to 2.
Yes, I was a bit of a nerd back in the day.
In college, one of my classes was computer assisted circuit analysis, where we wrote circuit designing programs for Apple 2E computers, using Applesoft basic programming. The commands were close to Commodore basic so I wrote a program to control an interface board I built for my trains. Here's an old video of it and the description I put on youtube:
Sorry, it's an old tape. I used photo transistors under the track for inputs, the outputs were relays controlling the engine and electric switches to control the train, starting on the outer loop, going to the inside loop and back. The second video shows the board with logic chips, LED's, and relays controlled by the Commodore basic program I wrote back in the day.
In college, one of my classes was computer assisted circuit analysis, where we wrote circuit designing programs for Apple 2E computers, using Applesoft basic programming. The commands were close to Commodore basic so I wrote a program to control an interface board I built for my trains. Here's an old video of it and the description I put on youtube:
Sorry, it's an old tape. I used photo transistors under the track for inputs, the outputs were relays controlling the engine and electric switches to control the train, starting on the outer loop, going to the inside loop and back. The second video shows the board with logic chips, LED's, and relays controlled by the Commodore basic program I wrote back in the day.
I asked my 7 year old son if he wanted O or HO. My mothers cousin has been into model trains since he was a kid, I remember going to his house when I was around the same age, 6 or 7. He has a nice layout in his basement. Last year we went to see it and he let the kids control it, but it was an analog system.
So when I asked he wanted HO like my cousin and I was ok with that with both price and size. Then I asked if he wanted steam or diesel and he said diesel, then i asked passenger or freight, he said freight.
That worked out great because that was the only DCC one with sound that vendor had. The train show is mostly dominated by O scale, then HO, N and Z and some G too.
The kids get to control this one too and they get excited when they play with it. The DCC with sound is great, they just hit the function button on the controller, they can control on the light, long horn, short horn and bell. They even have ones you can control via an app now.
This is the starter set I got
http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4587
So when I asked he wanted HO like my cousin and I was ok with that with both price and size. Then I asked if he wanted steam or diesel and he said diesel, then i asked passenger or freight, he said freight.
That worked out great because that was the only DCC one with sound that vendor had. The train show is mostly dominated by O scale, then HO, N and Z and some G too.
The kids get to control this one too and they get excited when they play with it. The DCC with sound is great, they just hit the function button on the controller, they can control on the light, long horn, short horn and bell. They even have ones you can control via an app now.
This is the starter set I got
http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4587
I like the HO's size and scale too, and there's a wide selection of trains and accessories available.
My brother in law has a big basement full of nice G scale trains with handmade buildings. I'll post some photos.
I found my interface board that I made for my original DCC system with the Commodore (they weren't available then).
It's a great combination of electronics; transistors, LED's, logic chips, and relay's.
My brother in law has a big basement full of nice G scale trains with handmade buildings. I'll post some photos.
I found my interface board that I made for my original DCC system with the Commodore (they weren't available then).
It's a great combination of electronics; transistors, LED's, logic chips, and relay's.
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There is nothing nerdy about electro mechanical engineering.Yes, I was a bit of a nerd back in the day.
In college, one of my classes was computer assisted circuit analysis, where we wrote circuit designing programs for Apple 2E computers, using Applesoft basic programming. The commands were close to Commodore basic so I wrote a program to control an interface board I built for my trains. Here's an old video of it and the description I put on youtube:
Sorry, it's an old tape. I used photo transistors under the track for inputs, the outputs were relays controlling the engine and electric switches to control the train, starting on the outer loop, going to the inside loop and back. The second video shows the board with logic chips, LED's, and relays controlled by the Commodore basic program I wrote back in the day.
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