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Shadow
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 355 |
1541U or Chameleon?
So when I was at LCP2011 I saw that many were running 1541U:s, and even the compo entries were ran from one, so it seems like it's been a established hardware.
So I'm looking into getting one. But then I started reading about the Chameleon, which seems to promise to do almost the same, plus even more.
As the Chameleon is still seems to be in beta stages, I guess it's not easy to get any info on whether it's a better choice or not, but I thought I'd ask anyway.
1541U users though I guess there will be plenty of here, so let me ask you - how's compatibility? Does older trackloading demos run? What about disk-swapping, how many multidisk demos survive the freeze-switch-disk-resume cycle? |
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Frantic
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 1646 |
I haven't had any real troubles with my 1541U (have both I and II) for a while. The fact that the 1541U firmware is open source is at least a little "guarantee" that any major problems that may arise will (or at least can) eventually be fixed.
Trackloading works just fine in my experience.
Dunno much about the Chamelon. |
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CreaMD
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 3047 |
1541U II, totally rulez. Forget file transfer through cables. Forget disc shuffling with old 1541 disc drives. Put your stuff on USB or MicroSD with D64 files and enjoy (and that's just one example of what it can do). Easily the best piece of expansion port hardware ever created for C64.
p.s.: you can of course use it simultaneously with disc drive to copy your stuff to/from diskettes to D64 files on USB/Micro SD |
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hedning
Registered: Mar 2009
Posts: 4720 |
The few problems with multiloaded demos (even on lot's of disks) were fastly fixed on both 1541U and 1541U2, they even cared to fix the 1541U2 so it could be run on SX-64:s. Awesome. I have had more problems loading stuff on my real drives than on the 1541U2.
I have no experience with the Chameleon, but I believe the 1541U2 are more accurate, because it is connected to the serial port and not just the cartridge port. It even emulates the sounds of a real drive in you need that. And the 1541U2 does not override the real c64 processor and vic like the chameleon do. But I guess that you can choose if the Chameleon should override the c64 chips or not. |
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Tadpole
Registered: Jun 2002
Posts: 24 |
Quoting hedningThe few problems with multiloaded demos (even on lot's of disks) were fastly fixed on both 1541U and 1541U2, they even cared to fix the 1541U2 so it could be run on SX-64:s. Awesome. I have had more problems loading stuff on my real drives than on the 1541U2.
Offtopic: the adventures from Magnectic Scrolls (Jinxter, ...) are also not running on the U2... :-( |
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Shadow
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 355 |
Alright, thanks guys, I'll be ordering a 1541u2 shortly! |
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Mr. SID
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 424 |
The 1541U2 lacks the standalone mode of the original 1541U. This might be a deal breaker if you have to plug other things into the expansion port. |
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Frantic
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 1646 |
MrSID is correct of course. Still, there are also cartridge port expanders out there that might help (depending a little on which hardware you need to connect at the same time as the 1541U) if this is really immportant to you... |
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CreaMD
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 3047 |
STandalone mode? You mean it was possible to have 1541U plugged only by serial cable (working like disc drive emulator?) sounds very cool. |
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Mr. SID
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 424 |
Yes, I still use this mode a lot when flashing .crt files onto my EasyFlash. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11350 |
"I believe the 1541U2 are more accurate, because it is connected to the serial port"
you can connect chameleon like that aswell if you want |
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Frantic
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 1646 |
I have to say that I don't understand how the Chameleon could provide "Stereo SID chip emulation (at 1 Mhz sample rate, very clean sound with no aliasing!)" when being in standalone mode. It says it does on this page:
http://www.syntiac.com/chameleon.html
How the hell do you write to a SID that is not connected to the C64 (other than through the serial cable I suppose)? :)
//FTC |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11350 |
what? standalone mode. ie, no c64 connected. it then emulates a complete c64, including (stereo) sid. |
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Frantic
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 1646 |
oh.. that sort of standalone mode. :)
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Oswald
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 5086 |
my problem with the chameleon is that it would feel like I've plugged a c64 into my chameleon and not vica versa. Whats the point ? It can be a standalone c64 anyway, so why ? |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11350 |
why not? :) personally i prefer the real c64 keyboard anytime, thats enough of a reason for me :) some might even like that then they can hear a real sid. or that they can use joysticks :) |
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Mr. SID
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 424 |
So is it then possible to turn off the VGA output and all the C64 emulation part of Chameleon and only use it as a fancy 1541U replacement? |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11350 |
noone forces you to use the vga output, no. you can always connect a regular monitor =)
however, disabling the c64 "emulation" stuff is not possible, that would make some things impossible (like the turbo mode, or not needing an iec cable). |
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SIDWAVE
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2238 |
Quote: I have to say that I don't understand how the Chameleon could provide "Stereo SID chip emulation (at 1 Mhz sample rate, very clean sound with no aliasing!)" when being in standalone mode. It says it does on this page:
http://www.syntiac.com/chameleon.html
How the hell do you write to a SID that is not connected to the C64 (other than through the serial cable I suppose)? :)
//FTC
the expansion port is wired to the sid and vic by cbm design, in old days you could get sid expander and other stuff.
thats what jens has exploited.
BOGG had a FM synth card he tried to use, thats when he left C64 to go for midi music. |
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MaD ][
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 23 |
Quote: STandalone mode? You mean it was possible to have 1541U plugged only by serial cable (working like disc drive emulator?) sounds very cool.
AFAIK 1541U2 has the ability to become standalone by using the optional tape adapter cable.
If you take a closer look at the connector you'll see a jumper named "J8" where you can read the words "Pass Power to Ultimate" (take a look here http://www.1541ultimate.net/content/images/c2n_extender_c64side..).
The Ultimate-II tape adapter consists of 2 plugs (one fits on the bottom of our beloved 1541U-II and the other one plugs into the CASSETTE port of C64); afaik there are 2 different plugs for the 1541U-II the first you can see here were shipped with an additional mini-USB connector in place of the "J9" placeholder you'll see here http://www.1541ultimate.net/content/images/c2n_extender_c64side.. ... the newer plug is simpler than the predecessor and only provides the "J4" connector.
Anyone can confirm that?
BTW: I own the Chameleon and both version of the 1541Ultimate and must say that the latter is is the best 1541 replacement to date, if you have to order one please consider the bundle with the optional tape adapter. On the other hand Chameleon is still in development stage (at least on the firmware side since hardware is considered production and final) and far from being usable as the only solution; Chameleon has it's own advantages over 1541U-II; IMHO I suggest to wait and see how the firmware development evolves.
just my $0.02 |
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Hermit
Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208 |
I bought a Turbo Chameleon 64 at the end. I'm quite pleased with it in the first 2 days, amazing work! \o/
The 1541 emulation wasn't as good as I expected (only some demos worked, maybe I didn't adjust some settings properly), but on the other hand the VGA output and some other aspects won the battle. Oh, and it arrived fast after Vesalia received the payment :)
I like the 2 panel file-browser, but I couldn't find 'copy .prg files' function yet what I missed in the MMC64 Replay too. Maybe with some updates this important thing will be put in, or hopefully there are some plugins to handle .prg and for faster d64 read/write operations...
1541U is a really beautiful project, but I didn't have a chance to try how good it is. It must be top quality for what it's capable of, according to what I've read about it.. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11350 |
"but I couldn't find 'copy .prg files' function"
F5 in two panel mode :) |
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Hermit
Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208 |
Thx. I found the F5 in the list after upgrading the bios&core from the factory 'beta 7' to 'beta 8c'. (previously its place was empty in the help, only F6 was there.)
Special thanks for making it possible to use Chaco GUI in Linux via WxWidgets.
I'm impressed by the whole TC64 project very much :)
Good to see the fast improvement in the VGA mode (CRT emulation \o/). |
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Oswald
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 5086 |
"I'm quite pleased with it, amazing work" vs "only some demos worked"
?
IMHO 1541 emulation is more important than CRT emulation. You can still get fine C= monitors, but you cant send over demos like a breeze using SD cards with a real 1541 and a sucky 1541 emu... |
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Hermit
Registered: May 2008
Posts: 208 |
As long as I can watch demos with my real 1541 drive the 1541 emulation is not a priority over the place on my desk occupied by the display and having clear picture when I compose... |
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Radiant
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 639 |
I really like my Chameleon, but the VIC-II emulation has a few bugs (sprite priorities in Natural Wonders 2 f.ex.) and the 1541 emulation chokes on some loaders (notably Booze Design) that the 1541U handles with no problems. I view it more as an interesting toy at the moment, and as a last resort if I can't get the regular video output to work on a particular screen. |
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Oswald
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 5086 |
Quote: As long as I can watch demos with my real 1541 drive the 1541 emulation is not a priority over the place on my desk occupied by the display and having clear picture when I compose...
thats a valid point with those priorities :) |
