Hardware Support

From Color 64 BBS Wiki

Introduction - Hardware Support

This BBS system operates on native hardware (with almost any combination of disk drives to include SD2IEC), emulated hardware like VICE, or newer builds of the Commodore such as Commodore Ultimate Elite II with IEC capability. It operates well with 1581 disk drives (or D81 images), but they are not recommended for any sections of the BBS that require REL file creation (like the system’s PASSWORD file or games that create these types of files). You can potentially work around the limitation by creating the REL file on an alternate drive type (like 1541) and then copying the REL file over to the 1581 (or D81 image) with a good REL file copier like COPYALL.

Special configurations this system will support include:

  • Commodore Ram Expansion Units (REU): The BBS can also be used with REU; however, the unit must have at least 256K of storage to be usable with Color 64. Color 64 will use the REU as a disk drive (with near-instant loading/saving speed) via an included RAMDOS program as well as an automated copier to move the files to it. The version of RAMDOS included with Color 64 supports REU's expanded up to 2 megabytes of memory.
  • CMD RamLink: Color 64 supports the use of the RamLink device from Creative Micro Designs. RamLink may be used one or both of the following ways: If you also have a CMD HD you can take advantage of the parallel interface, or if you have RamCard and RAM installed then you can take advantage of RamLink's automatic ram-disk function.
  • Skyles 1541 Flash!: This program supports 1541 Flash! (on device number 8 only). This DOS speedup kit from Skyles Electric Works triples the speed of a 1541 making the BBS much more responsive. If you have 1541 Flash!, all you need to do is follow the instructions in the 1541 Flash! section for installing the code. The BBS program will then automatically detect if device 8 is being used and will switch to slow mode if the current device is not 8.
  • Traditional Modems: This BBS will work with any 100% Hayes-compatible modem and Wifi-modems if the modem supports an AT command set. Some modems can work with Color 64 only if special modifications are made to the system. One example is the Avatex 1200 Low-Cost modem (not the Avatex 1200 HC or the Avatex 2400). Instructions for the modifications will be provided as you follow the installation instructions.
  • Wifi Modems: Color 64 is compatible with wifi-modems such as WiModem that support the AT Hayes command structure. For the WiModem, a modem init string of ate0x1s0=0s10=30v1 worked well on my system.
  • Emulated Modem: In an emulated environment like VICE 64, programs like TCPSER or BBS Server would be required. Invoking the SwiftLink interface in VICE will allow baud rates of up to 38400. When using TCPSER, a modem init string of ate0v1h0x1m0b1 worked fine.

The best modem to use is one that can be programmed not to auto-answer (ATS0=0) and will accept the command ATA to answer the phone when the phone rings. For 1200 baud operation a Hayes Smartmodem 1200, Volksmodem 12, the Commodore 1670 modem (the version that has 4 switches on the back of it) and most other Hayes-compatibles modems will operate in this mode. If you are using a Hayes Smartmodem 1200, set the internal DIP switches 3, 5, and 8 down, all others up. If you are using the 1670, switch 3 up and all the other switches down.

For 2400 baud operation, a Hayes Smartmodem 2400 or good compatible is required. Without SwiftLink the C64 must be programmed very carefully to be able to support 2400 baud, and the quality of modem and phone line are very important. Please refer to the section in "Specific Hardware Requirements" for instructions on setting up for 2400 baud use.

  • CMD SwiftLink Interface: For communication rates above 2400 BPS, the SwiftLink RS-232 interface produced by Creative Micro Designs, Inc. is required. This affordable piece of hardware plugs into the cartridge port of your Commodore computer. It allows communication rates up to 38,400 BPS and the information transfer is more reliable than otherwise possible. Also, SwiftLink will allow you to take advantage of the special data compression modes of many 2400 BPS modems that offer MNP (Microcom Networking Protocol). Color 64 should support any Hayes-compatible high-speed modem.
  • Schnedler TurboMaster CPU: For the fastest BBS operation possible, Color 64 supports use of the Schnedler Systems 4.09 MHz Turbo Master CPU. This nifty device plugs into your computer’s cartridge port and increases your computer’s speed by 400 percent. Although as of now the Turbo Master is no longer produced by Schnedler Systems, you may be able to find a used one somewhere. For the ultimate BBS speed, you can use the SwiftLink RS-232 cartridge along with the Turbo Master. To do this, you need the Master Adaptor that is a companion device to the Turbo Master. Configure the Master Adaptor to GEORAM mode and plug the SwiftLink into the extension port. We have not tested the possibility of changing the SwiftLink's I/O address, so if you have made a hardware modification, it might be possible that the SwiftLink will work with Turbo Master only if the I/O address is at the factory default of $DE00.
  • SD2IEC Drives: Color 64 v8.1.0a also supports use of SD2IEC drives using either the native directory format or with D64/D81 images. Using the native directory has its advantages in the vast amount of drive space, but REL files can be problematic, particularly when they are being created in the native environment. If you experience problems, you could try to create the REL file in a VICE environment, placing it on a D64 disk image, and then moving it over to the SD card with a good REL file copier. Another option would be to create it on a true 1541 disk and then copying it over. When working in your Setup for things like messages and Upload/Download drive selections, your drive init commands to move around the SD card’s directory structure follow the SD2IEC format. Examples: !CD// = go to root folder, !CD//AUX3 = go to the AUX3 directory. This also works in the Message Editor. For DOS Wedge, the command would be the same, but without the “!”. Example: CD// or CD//AUX3
  • Vice: Vice works seamlessly with Color 64 when properly configured and either with Jim Brain’s TCPSER or BBS Server. The storage capacity for the BBS when run in a VICE environment can be extremely large depending on your configuration (example: running in a LT Kernal (LTK) or CMD drive environment). I have two BBS systems that run in the LTK environment. The advantage of this environment is the near-immediate loading times of modules which can nearly match loading times of a RAM expander/REU. Of course, you could also emulate a REU with VICE as well. Below is an example of my VICE settings for my BBS Systems, configured for LTK (with three disk images) and Swiftlink modem speed. It requires a cartridge image for LT Kernal and formatted disk images ready for use. The example is from Vice in a Linux environment using version 3.9.
    VICE Settings Example
    File Settings
    config.ini
    • [Version]
    • ConfigVersion=3.9
    • [C64SC]
    • LogToFile=0
    • SaveResourcesOnExit=1
    • SoundBufferSize=100
    • KeymapIndex=1
    • Window0Width=703
    • Window0Height=594
    • Window0Xpos=377
    • Window0Ypos=424
    • MachineVideoStandard=2
    • MachinePowerFrequency=60
    • VICIIGLFilter=1
    • VICIIModel=4
    • RsDevice3ip232=1
    • RsDevice3="127.0.0.1:25239"
    • RsDevice3Baud=38400
    • AutostartPrgDiskImage=""
    • Acia1Dev=2
    • Acia1Enable=1
    • Acia1Mode=2
    • LTKimage0="/home/Color64_81a_servers/production/DiskImages/kernal-disk0.dlk"
    • LTKimage1="/home/Color64_81a_servers/production/DiskImages/kernal-disk1.dlk"
    • LTKimage2="/home/Color64_81a_servers/production/DiskImages/kernal-disk2.dlk"
    • DriveSoundEmulation=1
    • DriveSoundEmulationVolume=2007
    • Drive8FixedSize="0"
    • Drive9FixedSize="0"
    • Drive10FixedSize="0"
    • Drive11FixedSize="0"
    • DosName4000="901468-14-16.bin"
    Vice Execution Command x64sc -config /home/Color64_81a_servers/production/Config/config.ini -cartcrt /home/Color64_81a_servers/production/Bins/ltk.crt

    Next section: The Program Overlays

    Introduction

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