[BUGS] New Chameleon V2 issue?

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Don't Panic. Please wash hands.

    Hello,


    I have just received my V2 (I used to have a V1 many years ago) and am having stability issues.


    My hardware:

    NTSC Breadbin, 1984 board. Original PLA, original ROMs (switchable JiffyDOS). I went back to basics to make sure. I am using a high-end vintage power supply replacement from the 80's (I forget the brand) that works with REU and 1541U2, and never had issues with it.


    1) When I turn on the computer, the Chameleon "init" screen loops. It will appear to load and reset and load again from 1-3 times before the menu finally comes up. This seems odd and may be a clue to other issues.


    2) Most of the time, once I choose a disk image (G64) to emulate in the disk drive, it will mount and then I choose "reset all C64 memory" in the main menu, but the disk will not load and the machine is locked up - no Chameleon buttons work anymore and I have to power cycle. I have disconnected the real drive, disabled the IEC port (in the Chameleon menu), and turned off the Turbo function. Often times, I can power cycle the 64 and go through the exact same process and it will work, but sometimes it takes several tries.


    3) Many G64's won't load. Now, these are my own G64's from my own project (C64 Preservation Project) so I can control the process pretty well. I have converted them to the "old" style G64 where it doesn't use any advanced G64 features. However, they either lock up the Chameleon completely right after/during mounting, or else they just don't load- no files found, or just solid disk light and activity light is stuck and again no Chameleon buttons work. I am happy to send examples to developers and help with this... This is hard to distinguish from problem #2 above, but some have never loaded.


    Because of #1, I am thinking maybe I have a bad unit, or is this just stability with NTSC and/or the V2? I don't recall having these issues exactly with V1 on this same C64 but it's been a few years since I owned it. I did have issues with G64 compatibility back then but I don't remember having to power cycle all the time to regain control.

    i am curious to what SD card brand you are using and what size. I know if I dont have my SD card inserted fully, it behaved erratically. But I bought a PNY 16Gb two pack from walmart for $13 and those work good. Is the root of the SD card have a handful of folders or does it have 100s of files?


    The G64 files I use work fine from what I can tell.


    Hope you can get it resolved. Again, just curious as to what brand SD card and size.

    Please first try in standalone mode, if it works then it wont be a defective unit.


    There are some known timing issues in cartridge mode that Peter is investigating right now - what you describe looks like it could be related (general emulation bugs should never result in such strange behaviour)


    As for G64... its really hard to test all of them (obviously) - i have started a list of stuff a while ago here. However, we never got much feedback regarding G64s, so other things have had priority over it

    Thet "heavy duty PSU from the 80s" may be interesting. Do you have photos and/or technical data?


    The Chameleon requires a stable 5V supply to generate the lower-voltages (down to 1.2V core voltage for the FPGA), and although the regulators have rather big capacitors on their outputs, high ripple may cause erratic behaviour.


    Also, cleaning a 35-year old expansion slot with IPA and an old toothbrush may do wonders.


    If you want to report a bug regarding those G64 files, please do check them in standalone mode as well. If that behaves different, we should iron out those differences between standalone and cartridge mode first.

    I tried to use it in standalone mode, but no PS/2 keyboard I have on hand will work with it.


    I have one Microsoft keyboard that usually works with everything unusual. Lights blink when Chameleon is powered on, it boots to the menu, but I can't control it.


    Another HP keyboard I have never even blinks the lights, menu boots, can't control it.


    Another old keyboard I have (Keytronics) - the Chameleon never even boots with this connected.

    The Chameleon does have a very forgiving PS2 interface, and so far, there has been no keyboard that fails (unless it's a USB-only keyboard). I also have a few old KeyTronics keyboards, and they work fine. Please make sure that whatever you're using is really a PS2 keyboard. You cannot just use one of these PS2->USB adapters, as they are passive things; the keyboard must support the PS2 protocol.


    Also, please use the purple connector for keyboard. The lime-coloured connector is for mouse only and a keyboard connected there may light up it's LEDs, but it won't work.

    I played with it some more today in standalone more- I don't think it's the keyboards at all. It seems to me that the Chameleon is booting to the menu and just locking up. The keyboard doesn't do anything, but neither do the buttons on the device. The only thing that responds is holding the red button- it will reboot if I hold it for a bit. That's it. Is that normal?


    I made sure the device is powered by a good 2A+ supply.

    PS/2 keyboard should work in the main menu in standalone mode of course.


    please try the following:


    first, press space and hold space, then power on the chameleon. it should boot and the boot message should be on screen until you release space, then it should continue booting to main menu


    second, press and hold "1", then power on the chameleon. this would start with default settings.


    in both cases however, they keyboard should be functional in the main menu... if not, perhaps the ps/2 is screwed up

    Did you try it? It may well be that you have a defective Chameleon if it acts up even in standalone mode.


    I have tried v2 on all my C64s now (various different boards, PAL and NTSC) and it worked with all of them... so there isn't much i can do to fix this issue (if there is anything to fix in the core at all).

    Hello Tobias,


    Yes, it appears my Chameleon is defective. I have tried 3 different known-working PS2 keyboards and none work with the Chameleon. I have held "space" and "1" and nothing changes. It blinks the 3 lights on the keyboard showing power when you power up the Chameleon, but no keys do anything.

    I sent it... Actually twice. The first time it came back from customs saying they couldn't verify it was from Germany. The second time it did go through and says it arrive in Germany a couple of days ago. Hopefully you will see it soon. I printed out this discussion thread and put it in the box with it.

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

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