C64 Reloaded Mk II and ESPX8266 WiFi processor issue

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Don't Panic. Please wash hands.
  • I have one of these culprits, and I do see slight interference.
    I have a screenshot from a post by Jens with a picture of his fix and where he mentions a 330μH coil and a 330μF electrolytic capacitor.
    I have been unable to find further instructions, so I was wondering if some more detailed instructions are available (in German is OK).


    Links to examples of the exact components.

    i.e full specs for the type of coil and the capacitor.


    I don't mind doing the mod (at my own risk, I know) and I have the tools, but I'm not too familiar with the components.
    From the picture it seems you add the coil to the 5V rail and the capacitor between 5V and ground. Not too hard.


    Thanks Gimi

  • From the picture it seems you add the coil to the 5V rail and the capacitor between 5V and ground. Not too hard.

    Correct - you cut the 5V rail from the user port to the Wifi module and insert the coil there. Then you add the cap between the *output* of the coil (ESP-side) and GND.


    There are a number of articles around the net that deal with the pulsed power consumption of the ESP Wifi modules. Lots of solutions have been shown, and plain implementing none of them is not a good idea.


    No special instructions or technical data for the coil or the cap - they must of course be able to deal with the voltage/current that the Wifi module takes, but that's not too hard to meet. For the 5V rail, you should choose a 16V-type electrolytic cap, and for the few-ten mA that the Wifi module takes, any not-too-small coil should do. I'd assume a current of less than 200mA. A quick digikey search reveals a 60-cent-part:


    https://www.digikey.com/produc…J/AIUR-04-331J-ND/2343548


    Higher inductance and higher current will always help. Same goes for higher capacitance. I just picked parts that I had available that evening.

  • Just a follow up to this.

    First, I don't have the C64 WiModem from CBMStuff (Jim Drew's modem). But I do have a modem based on the ESP8266 WiFi module.
    I have modified my modem based on Jens' findings and have some small points to share.

    I initially tried going with Jens' recommendations and used a 330μF 16V Cap and a 330uH 190mA inductor.

    That removed most of the noise, but not all of it.

    I then set this up on a breadboard for further testing.

    I did some rudimentary (amateur) measurements and found that the Wi-Fi module is even more power hungry than I thought.
    Now I don't have a lot of parts lying around, so next I tried the same Cap, but used a 330μH Inductor rated at 330mA (because that is what I had available).

    Result=all traces of Wi-Fi noise is gone.
    I did run into some problems along the way. At first the modem seemed to be completely dead after I modified it. I tried to re-flash the firmware to no avail. In the end I re-flashed it to factory settings and then flashed the C64 WiFi modem firmware, and that brought it back to life.

    Most likely this was caused by me doing something stupid.

    Anyway, I now have a modified ESP8266 based Wi-Fi modem connected to my C64 Reloaded Mk II and no interference in sight.


    Picture of mod included. Cap is on wires because I wanted to keep the modem in the case-

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