Just recieved Turbo Chamelon 64 V2 and two buttons stuck

Caution: Non registered users only see threads and messages in the currently selected language, which is determined by their browser. Please create an account and log in to see all content by default. This is a limitation of the forum software.


Also users that are not logged in can not create new threads. This is a, unfortunately needed, counter measure against spam. Please create an account and log in to start new threads.

Don't Panic. Please wash hands.
  • I have another TC64 V2 on the way now ;)


    So a little question. When using the SID stereo function, it is my understanding that it uses the TC64 FPGA SID + the real C64 SID to accomplish this? I tried this and didn't get stereo on one of my C64c's. I only got sound on one speaker. I later realised the real SID chip had died. It had been working fine the last time I used this C64c (before I got the TC64 V2. I may have selected the secondary SID or both at 6581 instead of 8580 from the TC64 V2 menu. So my question is if it could at all be possible that the real 8580 got damaged when I selected the 6581 from the TC64 V2 menu? I would assume not of course, but just to rule it out I'm asking anyway. I know the SID chips are very prone to failure.

  • Selecting the SID type only influences the emulation. If you have a real stereo setup you need to set the correct address in Options,Emulation Settings,SID Real Stereo Chip. By default this is mono and then it will only use only one SID in the machine. Once that is set to the address where your real second SID is located. You can enable stereo with the "SID emulation" setting. The address you set there is what the software will see (and can be different from where the SID actually is).


    Configured in this way you will have stereo both from the C64 itself and from the 3.5 mm jack on the Chameleon. The last one is emulated sound. Assuming everything is ok with the setup itself.

  • If you have only one SID in your machine. You can only have emulated stereo and then you need to get the audio from the 3.5 mm jack. In that case SID Real Stereo Chip is set to mono. Then the SID Emulation is controlling what the software sees.

    Still any type settings will not affect the SID in the C64 itself.

  • If you have only one SID in your machine. You can only have emulated stereo and then you need to get the audio from the 3.5 mm jack. In that case SID Real Stereo Chip is set to mono. Then the SID Emulation is controlling what the software sees.

    Still any type settings will not affect the SID in the C64 itself.

    Thank you for confirming. So do I have to use software written for stereo for it to work? And btw, I only have one SID chip inside my 64s. So the SID music file or game have to support stereo I assume?

  • I'm not aware of any games that have stereo support, but yes software needs to support it otherwise you just get a single channel. And whatever address that software uses, needs to correspond with address set in the "SID Emulation" option. There are however a bunch of stereo SID files. The SID player in the menu system can handle these stereo files just fine and should automatically use the correct emulation mode (in most cases).

  • I'm not aware of any games that have stereo support, but yes software needs to support it otherwise you just get a single channel. And whatever address that software uses, needs to correspond with address set in the "SID Emulation" option. There are however a bunch of stereo SID files. The SID player in the menu system can handle these stereo files just fine and should automatically use the correct emulation mode (in most cases).

    Thanks for the information. The SID "emulation" (I don't consider FPGA to be emulation but re-implementation of the hardware) sounds really good and the sound quality is awesome from the 3.5mm jack. I have a BenQ BL702A running with 800x600, 50Hz, Synced to Vic II from the TC64 V2 menu and a set of speakers connected to the TC64 V2 and at the same time I connected an SVideo cable to a small older LCD TV which supports 50Hz scrolling without de-interlacing the picture. I have to say the the whole TC64 V2 experience with the above mentioned setup is far superior both in sound and picture quality compared to the native Svideo solution. Not a big surprise really but the TC64 V2 is making the whole C64 experience so much better. And combined with the pixelwizard cases I have ordered this will be total C64 porn. Delicious is probably the best word to use

  • BTW, when having no real SID or just a SwinSID nano in the C64 while using TC64 V2 and running Sid Meier's Pirates the game comes up with a couple of Error messages saying something is wrong with the SID. Game still works though. This does not happen when using a real SID in the C64. So what could cause this? Something to do with paddle/mouse support? Does the TC64 V2 SID implementation support these features?


    Also, so far only one D64 version of Pirates is working with the TC64 V2. It's a single image version. Tried 2 or 3 other 2 disk versions which was not working. Could these sorts of compatability issues be sorted in future TC64 V2 firmwares?

  • Thanks for the information. The SID "emulation" (I don't consider FPGA to be emulation but re-implementation of the hardware) sounds really good and the sound quality is awesome from the 3.5mm jack.

    FPGA and emulation is a Yes, no, maybe thing ;-)

    The voices/oscillators are definitely the "real deal" you get there, they are digital in the original SID as well. The filter has to be emulated as FPGAs can't do analog stuff unfortunately. But thanks for the compliment! I did my best to make them sound decent.


    And nice to read you are happy with the device. In the end that is what matters, having fun with retro gear!

  • BTW, when having no real SID or just a SwinSID nano in the C64 while using TC64 V2 and running Sid Meier's Pirates the game comes up with a couple of Error messages saying something is wrong with the SID. Game still works though. This does not happen when using a real SID in the C64. So what could cause this? Something to do with paddle/mouse support? Does the TC64 V2 SID implementation support these features?

    Yes the TC64 can handle that, but only in standalone mode. In cartridge mode it uses the real SID for paddle. It could also be the oscillator 3 read-back often used for random number generator that the game checks. Having no SID chip installed in the machine doesn't bother the TC64 itself and you even get sound over 3.5mm, but could give problems with some games that use specific SID features so keep that in mind.

    In cartridge mode it tries to use as much of the original machine as possible (the subset that makes sense that is).

  • Yeah whatever you read from SID could be broken when no (real) SID is installed in cartridge mode. I'm surprised "pirates" even checks it and shows an error - but its probably correct :)

  • So my question is if it could at all be possible that the real 8580 got damaged when I selected the 6581 from the TC64 V2 menu?

    No, there is no way that the Chameleon can alter the SID voltage inside the computer. That setting only changes the way that combined waveforms are generated (that's the digital difference of the two SID versions), plus of course filter stuff.

  • A few observations. So it seems the TC64 V2 behaves like there is no SID in the C64 when using a SwinSID Nano. However, when there is a real SID in the C64 I can clearly hear the music in Alien (1984) has the correct 'Woah.. woah... woaah' sounds when using the 3.5mm jack on the TC64 V2. Almost (maybe it sounds the same) sounds the same as if I plug the sound into the C64s own output. Almost like it's fully using the real SID even when using the 3.5mm TC64 jack. Or maybe it's just using parts of the real SID to make this sound correctly? Both with the SwinSID or no SID it sounds like TC64's emulation takes over and will miss that particular 'woaah.. woaah.. woaah effect. With a SwinSID nano alone (without TC64 this song would be totally garbled and distorted). Example of the ''woaah.. woaah' effect I'm describing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCw3SmAvRMs


    So as stated by the indivision people TC64 uses the real SID for some stuff at least. Seems to me that having a real working SID is nice even when using the 3.5mm TC64 jack. Have to do some more testing

  • This is really nice because I have two partly damaged SIDs. One of them puts out sound at an extremely low volume. Can barely hear it. The other one has extremely low sound in Wave forms test two when using SID tester software. And also sounds wrong in a few games. Both these chips seems to work normal when I use the TC64 V2 and plug the speakers in the 3.5mm jack. I still get the benefits from these two partly damaged SID chips and everything sounds perfect. And I can hear with the Alien (1984 game) that the SIDs are being used.


    Just love the TC64 V2 more and more now

  • That said, using the Chameleon with a (even partially) broken C64 is neither supported nor recommended.

    Other than the SIDs being partly defect the C64s are in very good health. I even recapped them a week ago. I have also measured the voltages coming from the power supplies, and found them to be correct. Also waiting for an overvoltage protection unit I ordered. And also a modern power supply. So I do not think these partly defect SIDs would do any harm? I just find it really interesting the TC64 V2 takes full advantage of these partly defect SIDs and sounds perfect when using the 3.5mm jack from the TC64 V2.


    But I understand where your coming from as an icomp developer and with regards to support.

  • So I recieved my second TC64 V2 today. All the buttons works out of the box. However, if I put my finger on let's say the black button and turn (spin) it, it will lock up once I reach a certain position until I spin it back again. This is probably what happened to my first TC64 V2. If I had tried to turn/spin the button back I may have gotten away with it without widening the holes. But at the time I didn't know that I could spin/turn them. Anyway, the black button is the one I use the most to go back to the menu and if I press it enough times on my first TC64 V2 it will eventually lock up and I need to spin/turn it back into position. Will see if this happens on my second TC64 V2.


    Anyway, this is no big deal as I can turn the button easily back into position. But I will look for a solution to somehow lock the buttons in place so they don't spin after many presses. Another solution would be to solder on some external buttons.

  • I received my Chameleon64 about 3 weeks ago together with a RR-Net module. I had to open the cartridge to install the RR-Net. It was really a disaster to unscrew! Even with lots of force, I couldn't get it open. In fact the screw was damaged. I brought it to a friend (having repair shop) at the computer market here who finally got this bloody cartridge open! Now I was able to attach the RR-Net and close it with a different screw.


    However, next problem appeared: when connecting to a PC using Chaco the cartridge was not being detected anymore! I tried different cables, different computers but no luck.. It seems the USB socket to the PC was defective. I am not sure if it was like that before or caused by the force to open the cartridge. Sending back the cartridge to Germany is no sense since I am based in China and Thailand. It would cost more to ship/replace than if I would repair it locally. Besides it would take a long time....


    At the end I brought it to a repair shop here in Pattaya and replaced/solder a new USB socket on the cartridge for me! I have paid 500 Thai Baht (14 Euro) and now everything is finally working fine!


    My suggestion to icomp: please don't use this bloody screw anymore which is difficult to unscrew for an amateur! Not everybody has professional equipment at home to open a cartridge like this. Just use a simple screw. When selling with additional parts (like RR-Net module) then just leave the cartridge open with a separate screw. Because the cartridge has to be opened anyway to install this part!


    It was a frustrating start but I am happy I managed to solve it by myself...

  • As I said in an earlier post, I had to use all the force I have to open it. As I also stated, I am working as an electrician and have been doing so for almost 25 years so I have fairly high strength for screwing/unscrewing. I had a screwdriver that was fitting good enough to get some really good force/torgue without damaging the screw, in my opinion. The screw still got slightly damaged because I had to use enormous force. It took all the strength I had. My wrist actually hurt afterwards. LOL.


    While I had absolutely no problems unscrewing the screw on an Epyx fast loader cartridge I had laying around. Nice to hear you got it solved on your own :)

  • The last reply was more than 365 days ago, this thread is most likely obsolete. It is recommended to create a new thread instead.