With so many entries for RC2024/10 (a record, i'm sure!), and having already put in so much work during the month, I really let things slide on the RetroChallenge judging front. But at last, we have results for more than just the RC2014 category. And the "Winner" is....
"Who on earth would want to emulate an MZ-80K?" Tim Holyoake, that's who!
Voters and judges loved his efforts and his blog updates. He will soon receive his 6802 Nano SBC, MC14500B ICU chipset, pin, keychain, and round of applause. He joins Robert Price who already won the Grand Prize for the RC2014 category.
Aside from Tim and Robert are more prize winners based on the voting, but in no particular order:
and I will be reaching out to you all soon to get your mailing addresses.But, as we all know, RetroChallenge isn't about the prizes... it's about the nostalgia and pride in a job well done. Even if you made just a little progress on your project, it was all worth it. And so, I will take a moment to call out some Honorable Mentions for their dedicated service to retrocomputing: xiled, Digitalrampage, epooch, semach.the.monkey, morecat_lab, and ecliptik who each had awesome stand-out projects.
Click below to see the full results and summaries in no important order ...
Category: General
Tim Holyoake
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80mastadon: @psychotimmy@mastodon.online
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.
Initial Comments: Tim joins us with our 2nd Sharp MZ-80K project. "Frequency illusion" is hitting me hard right now.
Halftime Update: Despite internet nay-sayers questioning the value of a MZ-80K emulator, Tim is forging ahead. After early audio success with a Spring fashion show, he gets virtual tape to load from SD card, then completes the code to save tapes. After consultation with the rubber duck, Tim sets to work completing thorough documentation. Nice progress!
Final Comments: Tim successfully completed his Pico MZ-80K emulator, implementing tape load/save from SD card, sound, keyboard mapping, status display, and even documentation! In the end, Tim's emulator runs nearly the same speed as the real hardware. He wrapped up with reflections on learning, nostalgia, and sharing the experience with the retrocomputing community. What a joy to read!
Final Status: *** Grand Prize! ***
stepleton
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80mastadon: @stepleton@oldbytes.space
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!
Initial Comments: Ya gotta love a computer with a discrete logic main processor and a Z80 for the I/O processor! This restoration sounds like a hefty challenge for the month.
Halftime Update: stepleton had an early jump on things with some rapid September progress on this long-term project. During October, the PERQ diagnostic high score has moved up from 010 to 157, putting it ever closer to a full boot after stepleton diagnosed floppy adapter and disk data separator issues. I sense that we may see a boot by the end of the month! Mark: wow, look at all those mylar patch wires in that thing! High density through-hole boards have a special place in my heart!
Final Comments: After repairing a FIFO IC, stepleton beat his own PERQ diagnostic high score, maxing out at 999! Screenshots of the almost working system and a demo at the Retro Computing Festival in Cambridge made for a great month of retrocomputing.
Final Status: Prize "Winner"!!
trcwm
mastadon: @trcwm@mastodon.social
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!
Initial Comments: With limited MC68K experience, trcwm decides to get it in the most difficult way possible (in the RetroChallenge tradition) and build one from scratch!
Halftime Update: trcw is making great progress getting TG68 processor simulator running on his TEC0117 FPGA board. First some basic processor tests, then RAM, then UART, culminating in his board screaming "...AAAAAAAAAAAA!" as it began communicating with the real word. Mark: 'nice orthogonal instruction set and a large flat memory model' music to my ears! For my 1991 degree final year project I implemented a meta-assembler, with the wonderful 68000 as one of the targets. Happy times! FPGA development boards have come a long way since I last used one.
Final Comments: trcwm's GW68000 project reached a key milestone with a working 68000 CPU and functioning UARTs. SDRAM was successfully brought up using the vendor controller, but his custom SDRAM controller never quite worked. Despite that, the project demonstrated solid progress in hardware debugging, and the groundwork is laid for future development.
Final Status: Prize "Winner"!!
Digicool Things
Platform: Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) / CreatiVisionProject :
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.
Initial Comments: Now this is one of the reasons why I love the RetroChallenge... two entries in a row with computers I have never heard of, but I can't wait to find out more about them!
Halftime Update: Digicool Things successfully implemented an initial key-matrix scanning firmware, then PS/2 protocol firmware, and finally a keyboard schematic to connect to an 8-bit AVR-based controller for his modern CreatiVision keyboard. Great progress and lots of interesting details! Mark: not one but two blogs! 3d printing your own keycaps is uber-cool, coming from a self-proclaimed keyboard fetishist. Good stuff.
Final Comments: After halftime, Digicool Things received parts and PCBs, finalizing the keyboard assembly and testing. This all went fairly smoothly (except for sourcing the right MOSFETs). The mechanical CreatiVision keyboard was successfully completed, documented, and made available as a kit. Digicool wrapped up with a YouTube video, and public release of resources, finishing off his awesome CreatiVision re-Creation series. Great project spanning many different disciplines!
Final Status: Prize "Winner"!!
Paolo Amoroso
mastadon: @amoroso@fosstodon.org
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.
Initial Comments: This looks awesome. I know Apple took a lot of ideas from Xerox, but I had no idea that there was a HyperCard equivalent for the Xerox workstations.
Halftime Update: Paolo is close to completing the handsome NoteCards-based "WebCards" digital URL Rolodex. The Medley Interlisp Project is worth checking out too. Now, if I can just convince Paolo to handle gopher URLs... or maybe replace gopher:// with "http://portal.mozz.us/gopher/".
Final Comments: Paolo implemented custom icons, improved URL handling, and provided documentation and demos on his WebCards digital Rolodex. The project is finished, works as intended, and was delivered on schedule... What a feat!
Final Status: Prize "Winner"!!
xiled
(Web Proxy)
mastadon: @xiled@mastodon.sdf.org
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.
Initial Comments: ecliptik inspired me too... I have been working on importing RetroChallenge content to a gopher site for the last few days. So simple and elegant... like an alternate reality where marquee scroll text, "Under construction" animated GiFs, and 88x31 icon buttons never existed... well at least until xiled put them on his gophermap. Good to see someone from our spiritual sister event the "Old Computer Challenge"!
Halftime Update: xiled is getting through testing his Ultra 10 by frequent "Incantation of HostID from the ether." Woah, this just got spooky.
Final Comments: xiled spent the month revisiting and configuring old Sun hardware: an Ultra 10 workstation and a Netra X1 server. After some trial and error with operating systems and network setups, he successfully connected the systems via crossover cable and serial ports, enabling remote X applications and stable personal computing. The final status: both machines are running, networked, and ready for more retro adventures.
Final Status: Honorable Mention
Digitalrampage
Affiliation: Australian Computer Museum SocietyPlatform: DEC
Project :
I am challenging myself to get a RL02 or TS05 connected to a PDP or VAX for use!
Initial Comments: For those of us who don't speak "DEC", those are magnetic disk and tape drives, respectively. Digitalrampage has been participating in the RetroChallenge off and on since about 2008! Welcome back...again!
Halftime Update: Digitalrampage has pretty lights on the TS05, and a possible blown RIFA capacitor hidden in the power socket of the RL02. That's pretty insidious to hide components like that!
Final Comments: After cleaning, troubleshooting faults, replacing old RIFA capacitors, and wrangling cabling and boot issues, he finally got a 42-year-old RL02 hard disk to boot on his PDP-11, celebrating a hard-won victory and proving that persistence pays off in the RetroChallenge. You did it!
Final Status: Honorable Mention
Louis Paul
Platform: x86 real modeProject :
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.
Initial Comments: Welcome to the RetroChallenge! It will be great to see an esoteric AND convoluted language running in an obscure processor mode. Louis thumbs his nose at all of you running your PCs in 'fake mode'.
Halftime Update: Louis Paul jumped the start with his skeleton code and sector bootloader. Still he has made great progress during October, first with his basic Befunge command interpreter, then with arithmatic and stack manipulation. Finally, we get to see a video of of everything running on real hardware. Sounds like Louis Paul is learning a lot along the way, but Begfunge still looks like weird ASCII art to me! Mark: nice to see some assembler in an entry - editors are harder than they look to implement too!
Final Comments: Louis delivered on his ambitious plan to boot a Befunge-93 interpreter directly from a USB stick in x86 real mode. After building it out and testing it in emulators, he successfully deployed it to real hardware, bypassing the OS entirely. The interpreter is mostly functional, with code posted on GitHub. Nice results for first big project using 8086 assembly!
Final Status: Finished the Month!
Mark C
Affiliation: Australian Computer Museum SocietyPlatform: 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.
Initial Comments: Mark C is continuing to upgrade the humble ET-3400 into a fully-featured personal computer. I will be keeping a close eye on his progress...I have a similar project that I haven't finished.
Halftime Update: Mark C has done great work thoroughly documenting his Compact Flash build. First the schematic, assembly, then a port of a comprehensive CF test program. Despite a cyclone, he has given us lots of regular and thorough updates. Bonus points for using an "out of date MacBook Pro that crashes regularly" to do the updates. Mark: firstly, green-on-black text for the website, noice! There is so much going on here too. Great project!
Final Comments: This project stands out for its depth and technical rigor and thorough documentation! Mark C. documents each step with multiple posts per day, making his project not just a record of personal achievement, but a guide for anyone seeking to replicate or extend the work. In the end, Mark C gets the system up and running, with FLEX 6800 reliably booting from a Compact Flash card, a suite of custom utilities, and a roadmap for future enhancements. Excellent work!
Final Status: Finished the Month!
PPC_505 (AKA Ortho'sDeli)
Affiliation: 68kMLAPlatform: 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.
Initial Comments: A very principled project! I need to do the same for the bloated RetroChallenge website and sign-up form. Lead us by your example PPC_505 !
Halftime Update: PPC_505 made a post about getting a new hosting provider, but no updates other than that. Let's get that website downgraded!
Final Comments: Rarely is a 25-year website downgrade considered a success, but wow did PPC_505 impress! No blog, but what a Web 1.1 flash-back as a final result.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
ecliptik
(Web Proxy)
mastadon: @micheal@social.ecliptik.com
Platform: Palm Zire
Project :
Using my Palm Zire PDA on a daily basis, replacing my iPhone's Calendar and Notes app.
Initial Comments: Wow, a PDA endurance challenge! We wish you best of luck with this inspired adventure in retrocomputing! ecliptik is pure retro with his gopher site.
Halftime Update: ecliptik had early success replacing the battery on the Palm Zire. After a few unsuccessful attempts at finding a good sync program, ecliptik settled on J-Pilot, then palm-calendar-sync2 for connection to a CalDAV calendar, discovering a community of like-minded Palm enthusiasts on the way. I love that ecliptik is using the Zire and a Mac Plus to help with writing updates for the gopher phlog!
Final Comments: ecliptik wrapped up his Palm Zire experiment by using it 'out in the wild,' finding it useful for basic scheduling and as a conversation icebreaker, but impractical for modern work tasks. I enjoyed his discovery of the loyal Palm community still Graffiti-ing away and the retrospective on his personal history with the Zire. Posting updates via Gopher was a brilliant retro touch... I love every bit of this adventure!
Final Status: Honorable Mention
rafaelmartins
mastadon: @rafaelmartins@mastodon.social
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" :-)
Initial Comments: I'd settle for lo-fi, but rafaelmartins is shooting for excellence with his hi-fi Sound Interface Device replacement solution. Check rafaelmartins' RSS feed for updates.
Halftime Update: Rafaelmartins hit an early roadblock dealing with a C++ codebase (not my favorite either) for his microcontroller implementation of the SID sound chip. We are staying tuned though!
Final Comments: Despite running into compatibility and memory issues with the reSID library and various hardware platforms, he kept adapting, switching codebases, testing beefier boards, and even prototyping on a Daisy Pod. While rafaelmartins didn’t reach a polished result by the end of the challenge, he made solid progress, finishing the month and is determined to keep hacking away at the project beyond the event. Great work!
Final Status: Finished the Month!
conceitedjerk
(Web Proxy)
mastadon: @septemberagenda@mastodon.sdf.org
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!
Initial Comments: One of the O.G. RetroChallengers rejoins the fun... welcome back! Zapatista revolutionary, spokesman, author, and retro-computist... what can't he do?!
Halftime Update: Conceitedjerk has deja-vu after struggling to get the Powerbook Duo 280c to boot from a new BlueSCSI. Finally, success finds him as he gets the Duo browsing and posting to his gemini phlog. One challenge completed!
Final Comments: More gopher/gemini phlogging! What a treat to have so many entries using retro blogging tech. After an early success with the upgraded Duo and finally getting it streaming Anonradio, conceitedjerk hits brick wall in the form of an IPX PSU failure.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
Xav101
twitter : @Xav101
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.
Initial Comments: Dang, that workstation probably cost more than my car! Top of the line vintage equipment doesn't seem so out of date doing 3-D CAD. Want to see more screen shots!
Halftime Update: Xav101 is giving us some awesome screen shots of LS-DYNA solver and HyperMesh runnning on IRIX while getting some real work done with structurual analysis of a front steering knuckle.
Final Comments: Xav101 merged up a complex mesh for his engineering analysis, but ran into issues with old punched card editors and solver compatibility. Wait, why does an semi-modern engineering analysis program use punched cards?! So are the quirks of vintage engineering software, I suppose. Great insight into high-end retrocomputing.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
JKnightandKARR
twitter : @jknightandkarr
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
Initial Comments: JKnightandKARR returns with his Zenith Z-Star. Hopefully he can get a reliable vintage computer built up for programming and gaming.
Halftime Update: Right after getting the Green 753 working, it self-destructed into shards of broken plastic. Atleast the Zenith Z-Star EX has a fancy welded battery pack! ABS glue for septic pipes usually works well for me on parts like that.
Final Comments: You know you are getting desperate when you start considering wood to repair your old laptop! Final status: the Green 753 drive is working after adjusting BIOS settings, gamepad’s issues were solved by cleaning, and a rebuilt battery pack is now working. Progress on 3D modeling battery cases and reinforcing a broken hinge, but the Z-Star’s battery pack and IDE DOM install remain unfinished. Overall, a productive challenge with practical repairs and a few projects left for next time.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
Mars
Platform: Atmel AVRProject :
Long-running 8-bit custom computer
Initial Comments: Mars joins a bit late with another chance to make progress on his AVR based 8-bit computer project. Mars ran the RetroChallenge back in 2020, resuscitating it after the 'Rona hit. Welcome back!
Halftime Update: Mars is making some progress with a simple "boot shell" and a bunch of new syscalls for character device I/O, graphics, and memory. Just what is needed for a game... we can't wait to see it in action!
Final Comments: Cat-644 Hardware 1.0 finally moved out of breadboard mode and into a proper enclosure with a custom wood front panel. The case looks complete, freeing up space and allowing future focus on software and possible expansions. The final space invaders animation looks like a great start for a game!
Final Status: Finished the Month!
urbancamo
twitter : @urbancamo
Platform: Commodore 64
Project :
Build my C64X into a workable machine and have a play.
Initial Comments: Ooh, look at urbancamo and his fancy modern toys! I'm feeling a bit antwacky in comparison.
Halftime Update: Urbancamo installed Solaris 2.6 under qemu and then WordPerfect 6.0/5.2 for Unix. Not sure if this was in his C64X. Slow start for him but he usually makes a mad dash at the end of the month.
Final Comments: Well, we lost him. And I lost his website.
Final Status: Stalled
CDP1802
Platform: Sharp MZ-80KProject :
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.
Initial Comments: Wow, I'm not going to get tired of seeing that avatar all month 😆. Maybe CDP1802 can use the Sharp MZ-80K2 to run a popcorn popper?!
Halftime Update: Oh no! Just when CDP1802 was making progress with a serial card schematic, bad power supply capacitors reared their ugly heads. Hopefully, we will get to see a power supply restoration AND a working serial card. Mark: I was given a Silicon Graphics workstation that popped 3 PSUs after which I gave up! Interesting keyboard on that MZ-80K - you pay a lot for a fancy keyboard with that layout these days!
Final Comments: I was really enjoying CDP1802's posts before he hit a bit of a technical dead end. Fun project doomed by the realities of working with 40 year old+ hardware. His webpage is gone, so I hope he did not give up on this idea all together. Truly fun project idea.
Final Status: Stalled
TiredGeezer303
twitter : @ElonIsEvil303
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.
Initial Comments: Yes, yes, Intel MacBooks and Pentium 4s are now vintage and retro. I'm getting old... but TiredGeezer303 is re-living his glory days by doing an endurance challenge with these newly classic machines.
Halftime Update: TiredGeezer had some early success with the 32-bit machines, but had to give up on the IBM NetVista box. I won't call this project "stalled" yet, but it has been over a week since we have heard from TiredGeezer!
Final Comments: Well, TiredGeezer seems to have deleted his X account and associated progress. A brilliant commentary on the fleeting nature of online media. Back to 3.5" floppies for him!
Final Status: Stalled
Sean Billings
twitter : @seanybillings
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.
Initial Comments: Welcome back Sean... Motivation is what the RetroChallenge is all about!
Halftime Update: "Making Progress" is generous, but Sean is trying. Those DIN connectors are delicate things, prone to melting. Hope to see more progress once the replacement connector arrives!
Final Comments: "AND, it didn't work!" Oh well, next time!
Final Status: Stalled
RetroCheng
twitter : @RetroCheng
Platform: CP/M-86
Project :
I will install, and run, CP/M-86 on an old Zenith SupersPort (not a typo) 8088 laptop.
Initial Comments: I think he means SuperSport, right? I mean it MUST be a typo, right? Bucking the Z80 trend, RetroCheng joins with a legit 8080 project that I'm *Supers* excited about!
Halftime Update: Either RetroCheng is going hard-core and trying to figure out how to get the SupersPort on the internet to make more posts or we may have lost him.
Final Comments: RetroChang hit an early obstacle with a DRIVPARM command for some PCs to enable 720K formatting on the older 3.5" drives.
Final Status: Stalled
thegirlg33k
twitter : @thegirlg33k
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!
Initial Comments: Acronym Glossary: PCG - programmable character generator. Z80s have taken over the RetroChallenge! thegirlg33k tackles a formidable project with a repair, software install, and reverse engineering effort. Welcome to the RetroChallenge!
Halftime Update: thegirlg33k laid out an ambitious plan for the month, but we seem to have lost her. It's not too late to get that Sharp MZ-700 running!
Final Status: Stalled
europlus
Affiliation: Australian Computer Museum Societymastadon: @europlus@social.europlus.zone
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.
Initial Comments: europlus joins us with a good old-fashioned disk emulator shoot-out!
Halftime Update: europlus is sitting back and watching us do all the work!
Final Comments: Real life was "just being too annoyingly real right now" for europlus. I get it!
Final Status: Non Starter
matseng
twitter : @matseng
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.
Initial Comments: Acronym Glossary: OISC - one-instruction set computer SUBLEQ - an OISC where the one instruction is "SUBtract and branch if Less-than or EQual to zero" -- Oh, another discrete logic proccessor enters RC2024! Make sure to cheat and use a Z80 as the I/O processor. matseng's assembly code be like: SUBLEQ ...; Subtract and Branch if LE 0 SUBLEQ ...; Subtract and Branch if LE 0 SUBLEQ ...; Subtract and Branch if LE 0 SUBLEQ ...
Halftime Update: Matseng, your welcome page is covering up all of your progress updates... we can't see them! Hello... Mats?! Oh, no...
Final Status: Non Starter
Hack In Days of Futur Past
mastadon: @allainyann@piaille.fr
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!
Initial Comments: Creating a retro challenge during the RetroChallenge! Interactive hacking sounds like a fun idea for a museum.
Halftime Update: Not sure where to look for updates here.
Final Status: Non Starter
Pendleton115
Affiliation: Australian Computer Museum Societytwitter : @pendleton115
Platform: Apple Macintosh SE/30
Project :
Restoration and upgrade of SE/30
Initial Comments: Pendleton115 joins us a bit late with one of my all-time favorite computers. I foresee capacitor replacement in Pendleton115's future!
Halftime Update: Not sure I have the blog address yet. Let me know if you made updates, and I missed them!
Final Comments: Found the post! Pendleton115 makes the handsome Mac SE/30 even more stunning with a MacEffects clear case, and chassis touch-ups inside. Not content with looks alone, he adds a Rominator II, 128MB of RAM, 50Mhz CPU and grayscale card for a really classic yet modern looking final product.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
ctb
Affiliation: Australian Computer Museum Societymastadon: @ctb31@mastodon.social
Platform: Classic Macintosh
Project :
To find the most stable and useful computer that can bridge most Macintoshes from 1984 to now.
Initial Comments: ctb joins us late with a search for the perfect bridge Mac covering over 40 years and five processor families.
Halftime Update: No progress yet. Great project idea, I hope we get some resolution.
Final Status: Non Starter
Category: Halloween Hacks
epooch
twitter : @ep00ch
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).
Initial Comments: I don't get it... a ghost definitely needs more than one bit to say "00000000". I hope epooch can be every *bit* as successful as avretro!
Halftime Update: ep00ch is spinning that robot around like he stole it, but still working on the brains. Chassis assembly, output board design, power regulator, and sensor testing made for good progress so far (but no Halloween theme in sight yet).
Final Comments: ep00ch finished a lot of work like a custom output driver board, a simple assembler, and getting sensor and motor tests working. However, hardware challenges and wiring issues kept the robot from autonomous movement by the end of the month, and the planned Halloween-themed features weren’t completed. Lots of creative retro engineering lessons learned.
Final Status: Honorable Mention
Matteo Trevisan aka Toolkitman
twitter : @Toolkitman
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.
Initial Comments: We have a couple of modern computers inspired by their vintage counterparts this year. Let's see how scary Toolkitman can make those drawings!
Halftime Update: Looks like Toolkitman finished early with a fun little game for the Amiga. AI art in the Amiga pallette leads you through random doors to your death, or a "friendly zombie." Be sure to check out the video to get the full multimedia experience.
Final Comments: Great way to finish the month with some bonus AI generated AMIGA art! A simple completed game and video summary wrapped up a successful month.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
andreixyz
Platform: Nokia Booklet 3G (2009)Project :
Made a janky halloween-themed computer, inside out.
Initial Comments: andreixyz does his best to break every RetroChallenge rule with his completed project and even some federal laws while (accidently) getting intoxicated on paint fumes. What do we do with scofflaws at the RetroChallenge? Why, let them play, of course! We are looking forward to progress and reports on how well it works for daily tasks during October.
Halftime Update: andreixyz finds rehabilitation and redemption with some harddrive swaps and Windows 7 installs on the Halloween themed Booklet. After playing around with Devuan Daedalus (a Debiun Linux fork), he settles back in for some Windows 7 progress...
Final Comments: The Pumpkin Spiced Nokia Booklet went full throttle into the “haunted hardware” zone with a wild ride of hardware swaps, cursed Windows installs, and failed gaming attempts. Every OS install was a Frankenstein’s monster, stitched together with hope and a dash of witchcraft. Final result: a spooky, orange nostalgia machine; more fun to resurrect than to actually use! Awesome work on the Halloween theme!
Final Status: Finished the Month!
Category: RC2014
Robert Price
twitter : @robertprice
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.
Initial Comments: RC2014 is a great platform to learn some hardware design and Z80 assembly language. Robert has a nice realistic and attainable goal... is he new here?!
Halftime Update: Robert is giving us an amazing rotary encoder deep dive with his frequent posts, great pictures, code snippets, and helpful videos. This is an awesome tutorial for anyone starting in RC2014 hardware design.
Final Comments: Excellent entry. BASIC, Assembler, PCB Design, Soldering, novel use of the rotary encoders, integration, publishing code and great blog with videos.
Final Status: *** Grand Prize! ***
Olav
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80twitter : @OOmdal
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.
Initial Comments: Welcome Olav, our first RC2014 entry for RC2024! A practical project for an impractical (but fun) computer.
Halftime Update: Olav deftly handled a Compact Flash drive timing issue before implementing a FAT FS loader. Olav found success just before halftime reading and writing a text file on the drive! Nice work.
Final Comments: Nice software project to read FAT32 filesystems, and probably going to be useful I would imagine to lots of people. Good progress, blog is well written, a demo at the end and publishing of source code
Final Status: Prize "Winner"!!
shieladixon
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80twitter : @shieladixon
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.
Initial Comments: shieladixon joins us with an RC2014 MIDI hardware refinement project. I hope M Bordet's sequencer will work with it!
Halftime Update: shieladixon has been making excellent progress with the new MIDI board. What a great write-up from prototype to building the first module. I'll be stealing her modern take on wire-wrap prototyping.
Final Comments: Brilliant, all the required components for a good RC entry. How does anyone design a PCB that works first time? Beyond me. Videos are great, documentation, coding, hardware. Excellent
Final Status: Prize "Winner"!!
semach.the.monkey
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80mastadon: @rc2014@oldbytes.space
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...
Initial Comments: semach.the.monkey returns to the RetroChallenge with an RC2014-based ZX81 workalike project. Let's hope he doesn't simulate the feel of its terrible keyboard.
Halftime Update: semach.the.monkey had an initial kicad compatibility setback, and then scorched his fingers on an overheating UART. But has found recent success connecting a Cambridge Z88 and Atari Portfolio to the RC2014!
Final Comments: Well, we can't all make perfect PCBs the first time! Despite some fixes, the board didn’t spring to life: no video output, no happy K cursor. Schrödinger’s PCB has been observed, and it’s dead. Regardless, solid progress and many lessons learned and some ideas for possibly starting fresh.
Final Status: Honorable Mention
morecat_lab
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80twitter : @morecat_lab
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
Initial Comments: The RC2014 MIDI battle is on! Who knew that the RC2014 user base had so much MIDI technical know-how?
Halftime Update: Morecat_lab is letting ChatGPT have all the fun (or frustration) of writing Z80 code. But, the results speak for themselves, with very fast progress towards a functional MIDI processer and file player program.
Final Comments: While the direct MIDI file player wasn’t finished, major milestones were hit: verifying MIDI hardware, creating MIDI parsers in Python and Z80, and developing a player that works with pre-converted files. The biggest lesson was that ChatGPT excels at helping build small subroutines, which can be combined for larger projects. About 80% complete, morecat_lab's project laid strong groundwork and will continue beyond the challenge.
Final Status: Honorable Mention
M Bordet
twitter : @soscotland
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.
Initial Comments: Art and retrotechnology converge at M Bordet's RC2014 MIDI sequencer software. The name is too clever to not make a project of it!
Halftime Update: I had to turn the sound WAY up, but M Bordet is definitely making progress with some MIDI notes!
Final Comments: M Bordet ended the month with a mostly-working MIDI jukebox and sequencer, thanks to his work on a solid MIDI library, file loader, and playback program, plus a much deeper understanding of C, CP/M, and MIDI specs. Amazing progress for the month, with plenty of plans to continue.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
@jskists
Affiliation: RC2014-Z80mastadon: @jskists@oldbytes.space
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.
Initial Comments: Back with his trusty RC2014, jskists tackles the difficult task of improving a Camel. One more member on the horse design committe can't hurt!
Halftime Update: jskits gives us multiple posts of background on CamelForth and Forth-2012 before diving into an explanation for a base 3 filesytem.
Final Comments: While time ran short and some core tests failed (related to esoteric WHILE loops), the preliminary tests passed and FORTH text file loading was implemented. Many future “opportunities to excel” in debugging and testing work.
Final Status: Finished the Month!
socketwench
mastadon: @socketwench@hackers.town
Platform: rc2014
Project :
A hackable, 3D printed expansion box for the rc2014 Blue Box enclosure.
Initial Comments: RC2014 users showin' up! This already looks like a finished project. I wonder what updates socketwench has in store for us?
Halftime Update: Socketwench got us a thorough update just before halftime, designing panel covers and refactoring CAD files for the Power Base for the RC2014.
Final Status: Stalled
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