Making new things for old computers. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/ https://www.tindie.com/stores/tynemouth/ https://www.patreon.com/tynemouthsoftwarehttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.ukhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mmcf7dgpfc2tI am sold out of Minstrel 4th kits at the moment. I will have some more soon, but I do have one assembled version 4.28 board with full sockets and keyboard. I am open to reasonable offers if anyone is interested in a bargain. [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 May 2026 17:04 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmcf7dgpfc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mm2bmxt4xc2tNew blog post - A PET 2001 repair and general advice on the 6540 ROM and 6550 RAM chips it uses. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/pet-2001-repair-and-dealing-with-bad-6540-and-6550-chips.html Hint - the short answer is get a PET ROM/RAM board.17 May 2026 11:39 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm2bmxt4xc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mm2bmxt4xc2tNew blog post - A PET 2001 repair and general advice on the 6540 ROM and 6550 RAM chips it uses. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/pet-2001-repair-and-dealing-with-bad-6540-and-6550-chips.html Hint - the short answer is get a PET ROM/RAM board.17 May 2026 11:39 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm2bmxt4xc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mlnzlueakk2bDoes this count as a Commodore 128?12 May 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnzlueakk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mlilse2mjc26New blog post - Repair of a Swedish Commodore 64 with no colour. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/swedish-commodore-64-no-colour-repair.html Warning, I am incapable of taking pictures of the blue characters on a blue background with a blue border on the normal Commodore 64 screen (assuming I fix it - no spoilers).10 May 2026 10:53 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlilse2mjc26https://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mlilse2mjc26New blog post - Repair of a Swedish Commodore 64 with no colour. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/swedish-commodore-64-no-colour-repair.html Warning, I am incapable of taking pictures of the blue characters on a blue background with a blue border on the normal Commodore 64 screen (assuming I fix it - no spoilers).10 May 2026 10:53 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlilse2mjc26https://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mkwycgrjls2nNew blog post - a follow up to last week's PET 64 / 4064 repair. Reverse engineering the video board which converts the Commodore 64 video output to drive a PET monitor. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/commodore-4064-repair-part-2-reverse-engineering-the-video-conversion-board.html Warning - contains lots of scope traces, schematics, and some maths.03 May 2026 10:49 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwycgrjls2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mkzefa4fec2nMay the 4th be with you. The Minstrel 4th. *3.25/6.5MHz Z80 based computer kit *49K RAM *Jupiter ACE compatible *Forth or ZX81 BASIC *RC2014 expansion slot *40 key keyboard *PAL/NTSC mono composite video *1 bit sound https://www.tindie.com/products/tynemouth/minstrel-4th-z80-forth-rc2014-jupiter-ace-kit/ (or DM me directly if you don't want to use Tindie)04 May 2026 09:30 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzefa4fec2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mkwycgrjls2nNew blog post - a follow up to last week's PET 64 / 4064 repair. Reverse engineering the video board which converts the Commodore 64 video output to drive a PET monitor. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/05/commodore-4064-repair-part-2-reverse-engineering-the-video-conversion-board.html Warning - contains lots of scope traces, schematics, and some maths.03 May 2026 10:49 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkwycgrjls2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mkffgiqx322iNew blog post - Repair of a Commodore 4064 / PET 64, a Commodore 64 in a PET style case. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/commodore-4064-repair-c64-in-pet-style-case.html Commodore went to quite a lot of effort so you could play your C64 games on a green screen monitor in a solid PET style case.26 Apr 2026 10:56 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkffgiqx322ihttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mkffgiqx322iNew blog post - Repair of a Commodore 4064 / PET 64, a Commodore 64 in a PET style case. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/commodore-4064-repair-c64-in-pet-style-case.html Commodore went to quite a lot of effort so you could play your C64 games on a green screen monitor in a solid PET style case.26 Apr 2026 10:56 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkffgiqx322ihttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mjtvyri7bc2yNew blog post - looking at the power circuits of the @futurewas8bit.bsky.social SX-20, a portable SX-64 style VIC20. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/the-tfw8b-sx-20-portable-vic20.html The SX-20 is better than the SX-64 not only because it contains a VIC20, but it is also fully portable with internal batteries.19 Apr 2026 12:04 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjtvyri7bc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mjxkt6exhc2hAs a Doctor Who fan, I had to have the "Tom Baker" version. [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Apr 2026 22:55 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjxkt6exhc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mjtvyri7bc2yNew blog post - looking at the power circuits of the @futurewas8bit.bsky.social SX-20, a portable SX-64 style VIC20. http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/the-tfw8b-sx-20-portable-vic20.html The SX-20 is better than the SX-64 not only because it contains a VIC20, but it is also fully portable with internal batteries.19 Apr 2026 12:04 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjtvyri7bc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mjryr2fsnc2nMight have to borrow this ... [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Apr 2026 17:48 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjryr2fsnc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mjccf472j22tNew blog post - A VIC20 S-Video conversion: http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/vic20-s-video-conversion.html A simple (and reversible) mod with pretty decent results on CRT and LCD monitors and even USB capture. (at least with this VIC20, and with the monitors I tried)12 Apr 2026 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjccf472j22thttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mjccf472j22tNew blog post - A VIC20 S-Video conversion: http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/vic20-s-video-conversion.html A simple (and reversible) mod with pretty decent results on CRT and LCD monitors and even USB capture. (at least with this VIC20, and with the monitors I tried)12 Apr 2026 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjccf472j22thttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mj3gc6amq222What's that smell? I guess I must had forgotten to change the Rifa in that monitor. Ooooh, nasty.09 Apr 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3gc6amq222https://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3miqmbqbsy22sNew blog post - Roller Bearing IC Leg Straighteners: http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/roller-bearing-ic-leg-straighteners.html I have been after one of these for ages and accidentally bought a second one whilst looking for parts to improve the first.05 Apr 2026 11:07 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqmbqbsy22shttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3miqmbqbsy22sNew blog post - Roller Bearing IC Leg Straighteners: http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/04/roller-bearing-ic-leg-straighteners.html I have been after one of these for ages and accidentally bought a second one whilst looking for parts to improve the first.05 Apr 2026 11:07 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqmbqbsy22shttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3milrisf2zk2mThank you to @filmisfabulous.bsky.social the BBC and everyone involved for a wonderful Easter treat. [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Apr 2026 12:57 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3milrisf2zk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3miir26d2as2xWell, it's now April the 2nd and it's still here, so I guess it must be real. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Apr 2026 08:11 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3miir26d2as2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3migkuql3xs2cAre you keeping up with the Commodore? [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Apr 2026 11:16 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3migkuql3xs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mig4odokwc27For too long now, 8 bit retro computers have been largely targeted at boys. I didn't think that was fair, so I have created a new retro computer kit just for girls, the MENSTRUAL 3. This is still ZX81 compatible, but has a new mode which is Petticoat 5 compatible. #Menstural3 #Z80 #8bit #Petticoat501 Apr 2026 07:01 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mig4odokwc27https://bsky.app/profile/tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/post/3mig4odokwc27For too long now, 8 bit retro computers have been largely targeted at boys. I didn't think that was fair, so I have created a new retro computer kit just for girls, the MENSTRUAL 3. This is still ZX81 compatible, but has a new mode which is Petticoat 5 compatible. #Menstural3 #Z80 #8bit #Petticoat501 Apr 2026 07:01 +0000at://did:plc:3cxkiyonboe3r74ssjt6lfmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mig4odokwc27